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Maryland gambling regulators on Wednesday approved Maryland Live Casino at Arundel Mills mall’s application to open a poker room, an expected but needed sign-off that came just hours before the Cordish Cos. planned to begin opening ceremonies.
Maryland Live Casino’s poker room. (Maximilian Franz/The Daily Record)
The Maryland State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency conducted a controlled demonstration Monday with 300 people in attendance. Money gambled at the controlled demonstration is being donated to charity, the agency said.
“The room’s operations were carefully analyzed and reviewed,” said Lottery Director Stephen L. Martino. “We are confident that the poker room operations are consistent with our requirements for transparency, accountability and the promotion of fair play.”
The 14,800-square-foot poker room includes 52 poker tables and employs 300 people. The casino already operates 122 table games on its main gambling floor, in addition to more than 4,300 slot machines.
Maryland Live is one of the largest casinos in the nation and is Maryland’s most successful gambling facility, having generated more than $472 million in the recently ended fiscal year.
Opening ceremonies are expected to begin Wednesday at 11 a.m. and the poker room is scheduled to open to the public at noon.
