P.G. panel approves ban on slot machines | Ben Giles | Local | Washington Examiner

A Prince George's County Council committee on Tuesday passed legislation banning slot machines from the county, clearing the way for the entire council to vote on the measure.
The bill, introduced by Councilman Eric Olson, D-College Park, would ban slots and other video lottery machines, a measure County Executive Rushern Baker called premature before officials could bring the gambling issue to the Maryland General Assembly.

Penn National Gaming, which bought the bankrupt Rosecroft Raceway for $12 million earlier this year, hopes to bring slots and card games to the racetrack in addition to harness racing.

Gambling at the track could generate more than $2.3 billion in tax revenue for the county and state in the first five years, according to a study commission by Penn National.

"We have to keep our options open on revenue. I've got to be able to give the General Assembly a chance to look at every revenue scheme," Baker said. "That doesn't mean we want slots to come here, but we shouldn't close it off until we see what the cost analyses are. We simply don't know that yet."