Maryland Business

By: Liz Farmer

As if Maryland’s quest for slot machines wasn’t facing enough setbacks, Delaware is pouring salt on the open wound by trying to expand its legalized gambling options to include sports betting.

A Delaware house committee narrowly approved a bill Tuesday evening that would allow sports gambling at the state’s three casinos. Despite disagreement between between the governor and the gambling industry to parts of the proposed legislation, the bill’s sponsor told the Associated Press this week he is willing to delay the floor vote so both sides can resolve their differences.

Administration officials estimate the gambling proposal could generate $55 million in additional revenue for Delaware in its first year.

Meanwhile Maryland’s slot machines, meant to breathe life back into the state’s horse racing industry — which has been losing gambling business to other states like Delaware that have already legalized slots — have faced one blow after another this year. From the disqualification of the only bid that would put slots at a racetrack to the threat of losing the Preakness Stakes, it has not been a banner year for one of Maryland’s greatest traditions.

My guess is, at this rate, Maryland still won’t have slots next year while Delaware will be introducing sports gambling parlors in their casinos. Great — something else for Annapolis to play catch up on and something else for racing officials to point to and say, “Look, see this is why we’re not getting the revenues we should be.”

Maybe gambling isn’t the answer to saving the racing industry here after all — maybe the problem goes a lot deeper like oh, I don’t know, the people who were running the tracks? Was passing slots a needless waste of time?