BALTIMORE-An analysis by consultants to the Maryland Video Lottery Terminal Location Commission that found a casino proposal by MGM National Harbor would provide more revenue to the state than other proposals was taken to task by Greenwood Racing CEO Anthony Ricci.
Ricci, whose firm has proposed to build its Parx Casino Hotel & Spa nearby the MGM National Harbor site, called the analysis arbitrary, according to the Baltimore Business Journal.
“How can two similarly rated properties that are three to four minutes apart possibly have such a wide variance of outcomes?” Ricci asked commission members at a hearing on Friday. “This makes no sense and appears to be blatantly biased.”
Greenwood Racing is offering to pay a higher tax rate and install 1,100 more slot machines than MGM at full build-out. Given those factors, Ricci said, “Parx is the clear winner.”
An executive with Penn National, which is also seeking to secure the casino license in Prince George's County, also criticized the analysis.
The commission has slated a conference call with the applicants and consultants for Dec. 12, and has scheduled a decision meeting on Dec. 20. See story in the Baltimore Business Journal.
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John Jordan
John Jordan is a veteran journalist with 36 years of print and digital media experience.
