Room for gambling expansion

That was the conclusion drawn by the Department of Legislative Services and its consultant, PricewaterhouseCoopers, in a report today to the General Assembly's Workgroup to Consider Gaming Expansion.

The report concluded that adding a casino at National Harbor and allowing table games would raise an additional $160 million for the state. That could go a significant way toward solving the roughly $400 million structural deficit. Even if the report proves somewhat optimistic, another $100 million in income would be welcome relief for legislators facing another year of difficult decisions.

Opponents of gaming expansion, particularly the current casino operators, were undoubtedly disappointed.  Others making moral arguments against gambling expansion-such as Dan Rodricks in a recent column-will likely be undaunted.  Yet it seems to us that the difference in moral hazard between five and six casinos is negligible. The larger difference might be in allowing live table games; there are some interesting questions about the income stratification of who plays what games. Allowing live table games might be the more progressive move.

This report makes it more likely that legislators will return in July for a special session to expand gambling.  How much more remains to be seen, however.  And of course any expansion would have to be put to Maryland voters in November.

MBTPI wrote a guide to the original slots referendum in 2008.  If the issue is put to referendum in November be sure to look for our update to that guide.