May 14th, 2012 by WCBC Radio
All indications are that the Maryland General Assembly will convene a second special session later this summer to focus strictly on gaming issues. Lawmakers are returning to Annapolis this week to tackle the budget- however it appears a debate about an expansion to table games will not be on the agenda. Caught up in the swirl of failed budget negotiations as the 2012 session expired in April were a handful of bills that would have provided for an expansion to table games such as blackjack, poker, craps and roulette, for example, at Maryland’s casinos including Ocean Downs should state voters approve the expansion through referendum. During a press conference last week, Governor Martin O’Malley said he has asked the leadership in the House and Senate to appoint members of their chambers to a work group, or task force of sorts, on gambling. The work group will apparently attempt to reach some middle ground on table games and other gambling issues in advance of a second special session later this summer in order to get the issue in front of the state’s electorate as early as November. Delegate Kevin Kelly said that all four members of the District One delegation favor expanding gambling…
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