State Approves Last-Minute Slots Deal

A divided Board of Public Works approved a $49 million contract to buy and lease slot machines for a Cecil County facility scheduled to open late this year.

Comptroller Peter Franchot objected strenuously to the deal, which was submitted to the state spending panel late Tuesday. The deal will pay for 1,062 slot machines from six suppliers, and lasts nearly five years.

The BPW also approved an extension of the deal that puts Baltimore Ravens logos on state lottery tickets, as well as the transfer of the Pride of Baltimore II to a private nonprofit. The clipper ship replica makes its home in the Inner Harbor, but regularly travels abroad to promote area tourism and shipping.

Maryland Port Administration Spokesman Richard Scher said the transfer will save the state $164,000 each year.

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