ANNAPOLIS – Gov. Martin O’Malley said he’ll move this week to set up a commission to study the expansion of gambling in Maryland, and that a special session on gambling could follow this summer.
Letters will be sent later this week to Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-Calvert and Prince George’s, and House Speaker Michael Busch, D-Anne Arundel, asking the leaders of each chamber to designate members for the commission, O’Malley said Wednesday.
The commission will study adding a sixth state casino site, in Prince George’s County, as well as expanding gambling at all casinos to include table games such as blackjack and roulette.
“Those issues are many, and require some reflection and forethought and planning before we bring people back together,” O’Malley said. “We anticipate doing that later this summer.”
Lawmakers are already scheduled to return to Annapolis on Monday for a special session to resolve the budget.
A second special session on gambling could be called in either July or August, once the commission has completed its work, O’Malley said. In addition to senators and delegates, members of the private sector will also serve on the commission, according to Miller.
Creating a commission could be a political move to stall the gambling debate and keep the issue off the November ballot, political analysts have warned.
PricewaterhouseCoopers has begun to study the issue in conjunction with the Department of Legislative Services. Director Warren Deschenaux said their report should be complete by the end of May.
The company is already under contract with the state to do such research for the Maryland Video Lottery Facility Location Commission.
The proposed casino in Prince George’s would be a $1 billion investment at National Harbor. Asking a casino operator to spend that kind of money will require changes in the revenue splits between the operator and the state, and officials need to study those splits to determine if expanding gambling is in the state’s best interest, Miller said.
“They’re going to look at all aspects of gaming, and they’re going to make a recommendation to the governor and the General Assembly as quickly as possible,” he said.
Lawmakers must pass legislation to put gambling on the November ballot by Aug. 20.
