Maryland Committee Mulls over Unifying County Gambling Laws
July 23rd, 2013 by Site Admin
The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency pointed out that the state’s county-level gambling regulations are vague and confusing, at the first meeting of a committee that was recently appointed to monitor Maryland gambling activities.
For instance, playing billiards for real money is illegal in Carroll County unless done in a senior citizen center on any day that is not Sunday. Besides, it is illegal for prizes over $5 to be given away.
Although it is the need of the hour to unify the county-level gambling regulations, a leader said that it is not advisable to recommend changes as “local jurisdictions are really sensitive about those issues” and “hold revenues dear.” Senator Nancy J. King pointed out that counties spend gambling funds on development activities such as youth sports and others.
The state of Maryland has already approved four casinos and two of them have already been thrown open to the public. The state licenses and regulates these commercial casinos, which offer games such as blackjack, poker, slots, and craps. However, several forms of gambling, most of them sponsored by charitable organizations, are regulated by the counties.
Although the committee agreed that uniformity is essential, it did not appear eager to take any steps in that direction.
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