Table Games Boosts Maryland's Budget Projections

Budget Projections

There appears to be some light at the end of the budgetary tunnel for the state of Maryland.

The state’s fiscal forecasters say the operating budget could be only $27 million in the red next year.

The projection is even better than what was forecast last month.

Officials said this is because of revenue expected from allowing table games at the state’s casinos approved by voters this month.

But there was a warning from forecasters to be cautious about being too optimistic even as poker and blackjack come to casinos this spring. 

In past years Annapolis has struggled with budget gaps in the roughly $16 billion annual spending blueprint…with tax increases and spending cuts.

State Senator Ed DeGrange an Anne Arundel County Democrat who chairs the Spending Affordability panel told the Baltimore Sun that this was clearly good news.

Maryland Live" Casino

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Officials at the Maryland Live! casino will be outlining plans to open table games like blackjack.

David Cordish, chairman of The Cordish Cos., is scheduled to attend a news conference on Wednesday at the casino in Anne Arundel County. He will be joined by Robert Norton, the casino’s president and general manager.

They will be discussing how the casino floor will be reconfigured to fit more than 125 table games. Maryland voters approved the gambling expansion to allow table games last week.