Window for Md. gambling expansion narrows-

ANNAPOLIS -- Maryland lawmakers will not be traveling to the state's capital this week to hash out an agreement on gambling.

Gov. Martin O'Malley confirmed he will not call a second special session of the Maryland General Assembly to address an expansion of the state's gambling regulations, but didn't rule out calling one within the next few weeks.

"We only have a couple weeks left in the window," said Sen. Jim Mathias, D-38-Worcester, noting the secretary of state has to receive and approve any ballot measures by Aug. 20. "The next opportunity would not be until November of 2014."

Mathias also said increased revenue from an expansion of gambling and a sixth approved casino in Prince George's County could help the state's gambling industry remain competitive against other states and provide additional revenue for state coffers.

"Delaware just adjourned and they went ahead and approved online gambling and sports betting and keno in certain locations," Mathias said. "They've enhanced and expanded gambling in Delaware, and part of the reason was to generate revenue and in anticipation of Maryland's expansion."

Following the governing body's annual 90-day session, O'Malley formed an 11-member work group to discuss adding a sixth casino location in Prince George's County, adding table games to the state's five approved slot parlor locations and altering the tax structure for casinos.

The work group was able to come to an agreement on some of the issues, but the three House members on the committee voted against calling a special session because of disagreement surrounding how casinos should be taxed if they implement table games, which are more expensive to operate than slot machines.

There were also concerns regarding how a sixth location so close to the Arundel Mills location, which opened just weeks ago, would impact revenue for the multi-million-dollar facility in Anne Arundel County.

Following the group's decision, O'Malley issued a statement that said, "Finding common ground will be difficult if House leadership has become invested in the notion that the Anne Arundel site should enjoy a virtual monopoly for as along as possible."

Since then, O'Malley has met behind closed doors with House Speaker Michael Busch, D-30-Anne Arundel.

Still, the announcement signals the two haven't made enough headway to rally votes around the legislation.

Sen. Richard Colburn, R-37-Dorchester, said the Department of Legislative Services estimates Maryland could lose $250 million per year if elected officials do not take action to expand gambling.

"It's really tragic that there are people in the state of Maryland that don't want to let the voters have the final say in this," Colburn said. "We probably could have forgone some painstaking budget cuts we are going to have to do in the next two fiscal years because we aren't going to have that revenue."

Del. Mike McDermott, R-38B-Worcester, said he doesn't expect a special session to be called later this month either, but said he wishes the state could have addressed table games independently of the other issues during the regular session.

"I don't think it's likely. He needs to give us some notice, so he's probably got like a two-week window to make this happen," McDermott said. "If he couldn't get them out of that committee hearing and if they haven't been able to secure (the votes) up to this point, I doubt he'll be able to pull them together by the end of the month."

One of the reasons lawmakers have been striving to work out the details is because any changes to gambling regulations have to be approved by the voters. If elected officials can't reach an agreement within the next few weeks, they won't be able to have the issue put on this year's ballot, which means the next time to address gambling expansion would be in November 2014.

Mathias said he hopes an agreement can be reached, because if not, there will be a long time before casinos throughout Maryland can strongly compete against those in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

"The urgency is to get something on the November ballot," Mathias said. "We'll just have to see if the leadership can concur on something."

If, however, enough votes can be secured in the coming weeks, lawmakers would be called back to the state house for their third special session within a year.

The first was held last October to address congressional redistricting and the second was held in May to work out the final details of the fiscal year 2013 budget, which lawmakers failed to do in the final hours of their 90th day during the regular session in Annapolis.

As many state-level elected officials throughout Maryland hold jobs other than being lawmakers, clearing another week this summer to return to the capitol building could pose scheduling conflicts.

"It's one thing to set aside three months out of the year when you know you are going to have to be in Annapolis -- everybody knows that when you sign up," McDermott said. "Everybody's got plans and commitments. There are a lot of people who have vacations they've already planned and paid for."

McDermott said because of the amount of time he has spent in his career he has the flexibility to take vacation and personal time, but he's worried other elected officials may not have that ability.

Mathias simply said, "if they call one, I'll be there."

http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20120712/WCT01/207120383