House panel bumps revenue for two casino sites

ANNAPOLIS — A panel of lawmakers has bumped up the amount of money a casino in Anne Arundel County and a planned casino in Baltimore would get under an expansion of gambling.

The House Ways and Means subcommittee made the change Monday as the House of Delegates gets to work on a measure already passed by the Senate.

Under the Senate bill, the casino in Anne Arundel County and a planned casino in Baltimore would pay 5 percent less tax to the state to pay for advertising and capital improvements in order to offset increased competition from a new casino in Prince George’s County.

Under changes made by a House subcommittee, Maryland Live in Anne Arundel County would pay 8 percent less and the Baltimore casino would pay 7 percent less.

Baltimore lawmakers also don’t want the Prince George’s casino to have table games at a temporary site before the opening with slot machines.

House members will be working on amendments to the bill at least over the next day or two in a special session.