New Slots Parlor Won't Open Early
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The state has signed off on its license, but officials of the Casino at Ocean Downs near Ocean City say they will not open the slots parlor early, preferring to open as scheduled at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
“We’re going to stay with our planned opening on January 4,” general manager Joe Cavilla told WBAL News.
“We’re taking these couple of extra days to really prepare our employees and continue training, and we’re going to open on schedule.”
State lottery officials issued the license for the slots parlor located at the Ocean Downs racetrack on Thursday, one day after the parlor held its demonstration in which all of the 750 slot machines were tested. All of the proceeds benefited the American Legion post in Ocean City, whose members helped tested the machine.
Cavilla told WBAL News that while officials are “excited” about the license and noted the demonstration went well.
Maryalnd’s first slots parlor, Hollywood Casino, Perryville in Cecil County opened a few days ahead of its scheduled opening in September after it was awarded its license ahead of its grand opening date.
Cavilla says the Casino at Open Downs is considering partnerships with hotels and condominiums in Ocean City to shuttle gamblers to the slots parlor which is located on state Route 589, just off of U.S. Route 50.
He says most of the gamblers who use the facility would otherwise travel to Dover, Delaware to play the slots.
This slots parlor will be the only in Maryland attached to a racetrack.
Live harness racing will take place at Ocean Downs in June and July, under the schedule approved last month by the Maryland Racing Commission.
Part of what will be the state’s largest slots parlor is due to open before the end of this year.
Earlier this week, Anne Arundel County officials approved plans for a slots parlor at Arundel Mills Mall. Developer David Cordish still needs to obtain various permits before a parlor with 2,000 machines can be built. That parlor is going to be on the first floor of an eight story parking garage.
Cordish is also building an expanded parlor with 4,750 machines, but that will not be open until late next year.
At the start of the new year, the chairman of the state slots commission says there is no qualified applicant for slots parlors in Baltimore City or at Rocky Gap State Park in Western Maryland.
