Maryland Casinos And Table Games

For anyone wagering the over/under on how long it would take one of Maryland’s fledgling slot machine operators to seek permission to run table games, you can now tear up tickets that predicted three months or longer. Representatives of Penn National Gaming say their Hollywood Casino at Perryville needs blackjack and the like to stay profitable.

After a better-than-expected opening month in October, the machine-only casino’s revenues plunged by more than 42 percent to $6.5 million in December. The owner says the state will need to make fixes by permitting longer hours of operation and complimentary food and drink to patrons, which is banned by state law. But officials would also really like to see table games if they are to compete with neighboring states.

That should come as no surprise to anyone even vaguely aware of what’s been going on with gambling in this country. Casinos in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Jersey and Delaware now offer tables games and are open on a 24-hour basis.

The shock is that table games were so little discussed when Gov. Martin O’Malley and the Maryland General Assembly moved to approve slot machines four years ago. Even Mr. O’Malley’s predecessor, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., demonstrated little interest in table games despite his strong advocacy for slots when he was governor.

Perhaps there was some thought that slot machines are the beer and wine of gaming and blackjack, roulette, poker, etc. are the hard liquor. In reality, table games broaden the customer base to include more affluent players and offer more employment opportunities, as the games require dealers and supervising pit bosses, not just machines and a few technicians.

Frankly, it’s a modest change. Some slot machines already offer the equivalent of a blackjack game, down to the life-size image of a dealer and video table where players sit. The only difference is the dealer would be human, the cards real.

GO HERE to read more.