Coming in 2013 - Maryland B&M Poker

[Eponymous]

Originally Posted by _*PSTONE*_

The adjourned last night when it looked like gambling bill would fail in the House without passing the budget, so that means they are going to have to come back for a special session in which they will only address the budget and the gambling bill...most likely. The Governor and leadership set the agenda, but basically adjournment was held up because of the gambling bill. Senate President Miller really wants it to get through and the House keeps F****** it up.

It sounds like they have a framework now that will pass both houses as long as this gets on the special session agenda. O'Malley is sounding so pissed about the gambling bill holding up the budget bill that he might want to keep the gambling bill off the agenda (my opinion only). However, I think it's likely that Miller will get his way, they will discuss it, and it will get passed. Sounds like the Baltimore contingent is content with the latest proposal that a casino couldn't open in PG County until summer of 2106, two and a half years after the Baltimore casino will likely open.

[Dottie Beene]

No special session.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...QI8S_blog.html

[TAFFYMAN]

So pg county casinos are now out? Or is this only until July when it will be debated again. What about the rest of MD? Is it likely that this will be voted on in November? Then what?

[Eponymous]

Originally Posted by Dottie Beene

No special session.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...QI8S_blog.html

I'm not sure how the actual statements by the governor can lead the Post to conclude that there is not going to be a special session. Even the leaders next to him said things that implied there would be one. There's no way O'Malley would allow the doomsday budget to go into effect if there's still a way to avoid it. He would be the one that gets blamed for the loss of 500 education jobs no matter how he tries to spin it.

The following story shows that Baltimore's mayor is still asking for a special session.

http://www.bizjournals.com/mobile/ba...l-session.html

[Eponymous]

Originally Posted by TAFFYMAN

So pg county casinos are now out? Or is this only until July when it will be debated again. What about the rest of MD? Is it likely that this will be voted on in November? Then what?

They don't debate again in July. That's when the new budget goes into effect, so a special session this week is their only chance of avoiding that, which they will do. That Washington Post writer was too quick to jump to conclusions at the governor expressing his frustration. The report linked below is more accurate. No one in Maryland politics could expect to keep their jobs if they allow the doomsday budget to take effect. Note that the assembly can vote to have a special session, so they can still have one even if O'Malley doesn't call for it.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/...-budget/470506

Miller, D-Calvert and Prince George's, dismissed the governor's criticism of the legislature, and said a special session is "just a minor bump in the road."

"We're going to have a special session, unless the governor wants these cuts to go into effect, and I don't think he does," he said.

I'd be willing to put money on having table games in Maryland and a casino in PG County. That's the reason the senate leader allowed time to run out on the budget bill. He knew the budget was important enough that they would have to hold a special session, which buys time for the house and the senate to reconcile their differences on the gambling legislation.

[Former DJ]

I get the impression from “reading between the lines” in this thread that Maryland politicians are desperate to find ways of raising tax revenues without actually voting to raise taxes directly. Falling back on “gambling” is the best way to do this as far as politicians are concerned. (This is pretty much the reasoning and rationale that led to B&M legalization in Mississippi back in the early 1990’s. The federal government was threatening to cut public assistance and welfare transfer payments to Mississippi if they didn’t do something about burgeoning welfare rolls, especially in the poorest counties such as Tunica. Mississippi politicians voted to legalize (and tax) casinos in lieu of directly raising taxes on their citizens. If this is the case, it pretty much ties in with what Professor I. Nelson Rose has been saying all along: The states are desperate to raise tax revenue and that is the primary impetus for these various state initiatives to approve casino gambling.

If the end result of the "Great Recession" is a proliferation of brick and mortar casinos around the country, that's a [potentially] great thing - provided the pols don't screw it up by overtaxing and overraking and making the games totally unbeatable. One would hope that increased competition would lower the rake, (especially in the poker rooms), but I'm not sure that's how non-poker-savvy politicians view legalization ...

Former DJ

[_*PSTONE*_]

Originally Posted by Former DJ

I get the impression from “reading between the lines” in this thread that Maryland politicians are desperate to find ways of raising tax revenues without actually voting to raise taxes directly. Falling back on “gambling” is the best way to do this as far as politicians are concerned. (This is pretty much the reasoning and rationale that led to B&M legalization in Mississippi back in the early 1990’s. The federal government was threatening to cut public assistance and welfare transfer payments to Mississippi if they didn’t do something about burgeoning welfare rolls, especially in the poorest counties such as Tunica. Mississippi politicians voted to legalize (and tax) casinos in lieu of directly raising taxes on their citizens. If this is the case, it pretty much ties in with what Professor I. Nelson Rose has been saying all along: The states are desperate to raise tax revenue and that is the primary impetus for these various state initiatives to approve casino gambling.

If the end result of the "Great Recession" is a proliferation of brick and mortar casinos around the country, that's a [potentially] great thing - provided the pols don't screw it up by overtaxing and overraking and making the games totally unbeatable. One would hope that increased competition would lower the rake, (especially in the poker rooms), but I'm not sure that's how non-poker-savvy politicians view legalization ...

Former DJ

Well put. Additionally I think the politicians are concerned that the current slots facilities that have been around for a few years will be unable to compete with B&M facilities in PA, DA, WV who have legalized table games.

Leadership announced yesterday that there is a possiblility of two special sessions, one to address the budget and another to address gaming. I am sure Pres Miller would rather see just one session, for a number of reasons.

Personally I don't see the gaming bill passing the House on its own without budget votes being used for/against it. Maybe people will exchange what they want in the budget for votes on the gaming bill....who knows. Its a big cluster **** right now.

[yg13]

As of now it looks like the governor will set up some sort of 'committee' that will research the impact of adding table games to Maryland. Looks like a political sham just to appease those who will point out O'Malleys initial opposition to the measure. A special session in August will convene to vote on the issue, and if it's passed, it will be on the ballot for the public to vote on it in November.

If it gets passed, we can expect poker and table games in Maryland as early as next year. Maryland Live is a gigantic facility and my understanding is they are waiting on this to pass so that they can adequately sort out their floor plans with table game space and a poker room, etc

[UGotTheTouch]

So the latest seems to be that the special committee has 3 meetings set up for June but the tea leaves say it's been decided that they will try to go through with table games.

O'Malley has announced a possible special session for the week of July 9th. The GOP, according to this story, may try to throw a wrench into it. It's my understanding the GOP is relatively weak in Maryland so who knows what will happen. It may just be posturing in the end to try and get a kickback.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...ERnU_blog.html

[TAFFYMAN]

By the tone of this article it seems like the republicans will try to shoot Down any efforts to allow table games in MD

[daveko6911]

Originally Posted by TAFFYMAN

By the tone of this article it seems like the republicans will try to shoot Down any efforts to allow table games in MD

Won't matter. Republicans control very little in Maryland. Here is what will happen from someone who lives in Maryland:

1) They will tell Cordish to pipe down about National Harbor Casino
2) The Republicans will complain about it
3) The Democrats will approve a 6th Casino in MD (at National Harbor in PG county) and table games to all 6 of them (for referendum in November).
4) It will be a horrible percentage for National Harbor Casino
5) Bidders will complain about take for Maryland/payouts
6) Percentages will be lowered
7) Other 5 will complain about lowered percentage

It took them years to finally get Arundel Mills built after all of the objections, fighting etc. We still don't have anything built at Rocky Gap or in Baltimore (These 2 are the biggest disasters of the 5, you literally couldn't get anyone to bid on Rocky Gap after 3 tries LOL). Arundel Mills makes 3 slots barns (Perryville, Ocean Downs are not very big). Almost every state around us has table games, and we can't even get slots barns built at Rocky Gap or in Baltimore.

The worst thing out of all of this that was done was to make any changes only allowed by referendum. So if the special session falls through, nothing can happen again until 2014 (which would push table games/national harbor to 2015-2016). Welcome to Maryland. Enjoy your stay.

[zerosum79]

Originally Posted by TAFFYMAN

By the tone of this article it seems like the republicans will try to shoot Down any efforts to allow table games in MD

Good thing there are basically no Republicans in MD.

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[yg13]

Originally Posted by daveko6911

So if the special session falls through, nothing can happen again until 2014 (which would push table games/national harbor to 2015-2016). Welcome to Maryland. Enjoy your stay.

The special session will not fall through. This is politics. They won't have a special session unless they know they have the votes to pass table games (and they will).

As for Baltimore, Harrah's has bid on it but has told law makers that they won't commit to the site unless and until table games are passed.

[UGotTheTouch]

Originally Posted by daveko6911

It took them years to finally get Arundel Mills built after all of the objections, fighting etc. We still don't have anything built at Rocky Gap or in Baltimore (These 2 are the biggest disasters of the 5, you literally couldn't get anyone to bid on Rocky Gap after 3 tries LOL). Arundel Mills makes 3 slots barns (Perryville, Ocean Downs are not very big). Almost every state around us has table games, and we can't even get slots barns built at Rocky Gap or in Baltimore.

Whatever they almost agreed to back in March had National Harbor being forced to wait several years before being allowed to be made whole to compete with Arundel Mills. Nothing will be final there for about a good 4+ years.

Pretty much, if Maryland goes runner runner runner for the table games win, Arundel Mills will be up and running within months - gotta give time for hiring/training/set-up/etc. so late-spring-early-summer 2013ish? Harrah's will finalize the Baltimore plot and get that built as quickly as possible but that won't be running until 2014 at the earliest. National Harbor wouldn't be online 'til at least 2016.

[zerosum79]

Is it odd that Arundel Mills already has electronic forms of all table games (Roulette, black jack, etc) even poker (etable)?

There can not be that great a distinction between having a dealer and not having a dealer.

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