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Maryland Bingo Operators Worried about Slots

MARYLAND – As reported by the Baltimore Sun: "…During a recent night at Bingo World in Linthicum, three sisters from Glen Burnie - Sandy, Donna and Brenda - play nearly 100 cards between them.

"…Like a hopeful handful of the more than 400 other players, the sisters are just one call from winning bingo.

"Commercial bingo operators, on the other hand, worry that they're one call from losing their game. They are waiting to see if the state approves slot machines as a way to bring in needed revenue.

"Maryland's for-profit bingo, a vestige of the last century that is unique outside Nevada and Indian reservations, will be hard-pressed to survive against Maryland slots, they say.

"…There are other big decisions on the table as well. Anne Arundel - home to nearly half of the state's commercial halls - may raise its tax rate on bingo.

"The county's leaders also must decide whether to allow a linked, big-stakes game among the county's three halls.

"None of those may matter if the General Assembly approves slots.

"…Buses come from as far as Virginia, Delaware and Washington to the Arundel halls. While other states and Maryland counties allow private companies to run commercial games, they require at least some charity involvement. Not in these halls.

"…Anne Arundel's county council explored abolishing the game three years ago but relented and opted for increased regulation. Gradually, the game has recovered from the changes.

"…Bingo operators say they would like to operate slot machines, but they haven't put forward any such proposal.

"…Anne Arundel's bingo practitioners are careful not to complain about county regulation, but they would like to loosen some rules.

"…If bingo has survived for any one reason, its promoters said, it's the socialization that a slot machine doesn't provide…"

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