The Maryland Senate Budget and Taxation Committee approved expansion of gambling in the state yesterday on an 11 to 1 vote.
It came on the first day of a special legislative session in Annapolis to allow table games and a sixth casino in Prince George’s County.
The measure now goes to the full Senate.
Owners of the Maryland Live! Casino in Anne Arundel county testified against the measure…fearing that the sixth casino would damage their business.
Meanwhile, William Rickman, the owner of Ocean Downs casino on the Eastern Shore, supported the bill.
The measure would boost the casino’s proceeds from 33 percent to 43 percent of its gross revenues.
Rickman noted that his facility near Ocean City lost $2.25 million in its first year.
