Selection of Rocky Gap casino developer delayed

Posted: 2:30 pm Fri, January 13, 2012
By Nicholas Sohr
Daily Record Business Writer

ANNAPOLIS — Delays in background investigations of would-be casino developers in Western Maryland will push back the state’s decision on a pair of applications to build a slots parlor at the Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort.

Stephen L. Martino, director of the Maryland State Lottery Agency, said Friday investigators have not even been able to determine who the principals are in the development group led by Nathan Landow, the former head of the Maryland Democratic Party.

“I think it’s fair to say that’s not entirely clear to us,” said Martino.

The lottery is tasked with conducting background investigations of the key investors, owners and operators of groups seeking state gambling licenses before the Video Lottery Facility Location Commission awards the licenses.

Martino said the lottery is still waiting for documents from Landow’s group to clarify the application submitted Sept. 23.

Landow proposed a slots venue with 500 terminals. He was not required to submit a license fee because he did not exceed 500 machines.

“I really can’t tell you when we can produce a full background investigation because we don’t have all the [documents],” Martino told the location commission.

He said the lottery has all the information it needs to finish the investigation of the Evitts Resorts LLC group seeking the Rocky Gap license.

Evitts proposed an 850-terminal facility and submitted a $2.1 million license fee in September. That group includes William Correa, head of Paragon Project Resources Inc., an engineering firm in Texas.

“I think we have probably slid into mid-February … to complete that investigation,” Martino said.

Members of the slots commission had hoped to award the Rocky Gap and Baltimore City casino licenses early this year.

Martino said the background investigation into the Caesars Entertainment Corp. application in Baltimore should be finished in mid-April.

The location commission entered a closed session at 1:30 p.m. and is expected to resume the public portion of its meeting later Friday afternoon.