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Mini-Casinos Legalized In Calvert And Anne Arundel Counties

July 11th, 2012 by WCBC Radio

The Baltimore Sun reports that the Maryland General Assembly- in the waning hours of the 2012 session in April- quietly passed a law that will let six so-called mini-casinos operate in Anne Arundel and Calvert counties. For many years across the state small taverns and restaurants routinely featured slot machines for customers- including many in Allegany County. The law approved this past session does not permit such activity outside of Anne Arundel or Calvart. The measure marked a 180-degree shift for the Assembly, which initially wanted to wipe out these small gambling sites to clear the landscape for Maryland's five voter-approved casinos. But state and local officials became used to the tax revenue the places produce. The mini-casinos hired lobbyists. And the governor and the General Assembly decided to legalize them permanently. Senate President Mike Miller himself originally fought for, and testified in favor of the 2008 legislation that initially ended the mini-casino concept.  Former Allegany County Commissioner Dale Lewis is frustrated by this latest turn of events- saying it is patently unfair for Calvert and Anne Arundel to be able to reap the benefits of slots operations- while economically distressed Allegany County cannot…





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