Rawlings-Blake Backs Expanded Gambling Bill
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is expressing support for expanding gambling in Maryland.
The mayor expressed her support in a letter Friday to House Speaker Michael Busch and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Sheila Hixson to allow table games and a casino in Prince George's County.
The mayor writes that allowing games like blackjack will enable a future Baltimore casino to overcome competitive disadvantages with casinos in neighboring states.
Rawlings-Blake says she had some concerns about allowing a sixth casino in the state in Prince George's County. However, she says her concern has been allayed by a provision in a bill passed by the Senate would impose a 10 percent tax on table games that will go to local governments.
A hearing on the bill is scheduled for Tuesday.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
