Maryland Approves State’s First Slot License

A Maryland panel has voted unanimously to approve the state’s first slot machine license at an Eastern Shore horse racing track.
The slot machine commission approved the license Wednesday after hearing about a positive background investigation into the Ocean Downs track near
Ocean City.
Track owner William Rickman will be able to proceed with his proposal for 800 machines at the track. He says they could be operational by Memorial Day of next year.

Rickman also could expand the number of machines, because a constitutional amendment approved by voters last year would allow up to 2,500 machines at the track.

Of a possible 15,000 slot machines at five locations, developers only bid on 6,500 machines at four spots, including Anne Arundel, Cecil and
Worcester counties and Baltimore city. 

Race tracks in West Virginia are waiting to see what impact slot machines in Maryland will have on their revenue.

 A decrease in revenue at West Virginia tracks will impact the income of local government as well.