Facility Location Commission

Mission

In November 2008, the Video Lottery Facility Location Commission was established (Chapter 4, Acts of 2007 Special Session). The Commission conducted a competitive bidding process to award licenses to operate video lottery facilities in Maryland.

The Commission initially was permitted to award licenses for five jurisdictions: Allegany, Anne Arundel, Cecil and Worcester counties, and Baltimore City. In a November 2012 referendum, Maryland voters approved a sixth facility for Prince George’s County. After awarding the Prince George’s County license to MGM Resorts International, the Facility Location Commission’s work was completed and it was officially dissolved.

Donald Fry (Chairman)
James J. King
Rona E. Kramer
Michael G. Miller
Ella H. Pierce
D. Bruce Poole
Linda S. Read

In 2007, Governor Martin O’Malley and the Maryland General Assembly enacted legislation that would allow the citizens of Maryland to vote on a limited number of slot machines in the State of Maryland. On November 4, 2008, 58% of voters statewide approved the referendum. Voters in every county in Maryland approved the referendum.

The legislation authorized the state to issue up to five video lottery licenses for the primary purpose of raising revenue for education of children in public schools, pre-kindergarten through grade 12; public school construction and improvements; and construction of capital projects at community colleges and higher education institutions. The legislation allowed no more than 15,000 video lottery terminals to be authorized in the State, and only one license to be issued for each specified location in Anne Arundel, Cecil, Worcester, and Allegany Counties and Baltimore City. Any additional forms or expansion of commercial gaming in Maryland are prohibited, unless approved by a voter referendum.