Table Games Arriving At Maryland's Largest Casino
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Table games at Maryland's largest casino are on the way. The high-stakes games open next month.
Gigi Barnett explains the state's largest casino says it will now be able to compete with casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas.
From a massive delivery truck, workers at Maryland Live! casino in Anne Arundel County rolled in the future of gaming in the state.
"For a casino, tables are a show. Tables are the entertainment," said Neal Sloane.
Until voters greenlit the table games back in November, slots dominated casinos in Maryland.
"I'm not a table games person. I'm a slot machine girl," said Helen York.
Neal Sloane is in charge of installing the table games at the state's largest casino, Maryland Live! He says high-stakes tables change the vibe and draw a different kind of gambler.
"A lot of known gamers have not been to our casinos because we don't have live tables so they've been going out of state to spend their money," said Sloane.
He says that puts Maryland on par with Delaware, West Virginia and even Las Vegas.
For some players, it's bigger games and higher stakes that are closer to home.
"That's right. And when I lose my money, I can just go on back home and don't have to worry about driving a long way broke," said Florice Ward.
The tables need dealers and that means jobs--more than 1,200 extra to Maryland Live!
"A lot of them are people from Maryland and they want to come back," said Sloane.
Poker is included in the new table games. They're planning a two-level poker room. Construction on that won't be complete until this summer.
Maryland Live! will feature more than 120 tables. The high-stakes games at that casino begin on April 11.
