Maryland dismisses slots in major fairground
Greater Timonium Community Council represents the interests of nearly 60 neighbourhoods in the state.
US.- Maryland is a really active state as to gaming industry. Its government tries to keep ahead with modernisation (they are currently studying daily fantasy sports bill) and takes care of casino inversions and operations. Nevertheless, for this year’s annual fair, Baltimore’s legislators -biggest city in the state- presented a formal petition to ban slots and table games in the traditional gathering for those operators that don’t have a previous authorisation.
“The new bill permits off-track betting exactly the way the fairgrounds track wants it, but it also asks for a giveback on the part of the fairgrounds. The fairgrounds has to commit that they won’t seek in the future to increase the gambling presence at the fairgrounds by going for slots or a casino forever,” explained Chris West, Republican Delegate. The agreement to run gaming activities during the fairgrounds must be signed by the Greater Timonium Community Council.
The House Ways and Means Committee will have to define the final position before the end of next week. West is determined to prohibit off-track betting in the biggest fair of Maryland, although participants believe that the main target is to prevent the license for a new casino in the region. Nevertheless, the Maryland Racing Commission announced last week that faigrounds will be able to operate a year-round off-track bettings on races at tracks.
