Penn National says Rosecroft casino would include 3,000 slot machines
A driver takes a few laps at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington. (Photo… (/ )
A spokeswoman for Penn National Gaming said Monday that the company’s vision for a casino at Rosecroft Raceway includes 3,000 slot machines, six times what was indicated in a summary of bids released by Maryland regulators Friday.
Penn’s proposal was one of three received for a Prince George’s casino by Friday’s deadline. MGM Resorts and Greenwood Racing are also competing for the license, which could be awarded by the end of the year.
A “registry of proposals” released by the state late Friday said Penn’s proposal includes 500 slot machines — a figure based on the size of a licensing fee that the company submitted with its bid.
The state had asked that bidders put forward $3 million for every 500 slot machines they are proposing. Penn’s application included only $3 million.
By contrast, MGM included $21.6 million for its plan to include 3,600 slot machines in a casino at National Harbor, and Greenwood included $28.5 million for its plan for 4,750 machines at a casino at Indian Head Highway and Old Fort Road.
The state has said losing bidders will get their money back. But Karen Bailey, a spokeswoman for Penn, said the company did not submit a larger fee because of “the continued gray area around the refundability of these fees.”
“We have made clear to the state in our submission that we are designing the facility for at least the full statutory allotment of (3,000 slot machines) and will submit the remaining fees upon licensing,” Bailey said.
It remains to be seen how that strategy will play out.
“I’m not really sure what the gray area would be,” said Donald C. Fry, chairman of the state commission that selects casino locations. “We’ve answered that question several times.”
Over the coming months, Fry said the commission will evaluate proposals “based on the number of machines that have been requested and paid for.”
He said it is possible for applicants to amend their proposals during the review process but that such changes are at the discretion of the commission, based on several criteria in state law.
Penn’s proposal was one of three received for a Prince George’s casino by Friday’s deadline. MGM Resorts and Greenwood Racing are also competing for the license, which could be awarded by the end of the year.
A “registry of proposals” released by the state late Friday said Penn’s proposal includes 500 slot machines — a figure based on the size of a licensing fee that the company submitted with its bid.
The state had asked that bidders put forward $3 million for every 500 slot machines they are proposing. Penn’s application included only $3 million.
By contrast, MGM included $21.6 million for its plan to include 3,600 slot machines in a casino at National Harbor, and Greenwood included $28.5 million for its plan for 4,750 machines at a casino at Indian Head Highway and Old Fort Road.
The state has said losing bidders will get their money back. But Karen Bailey, a spokeswoman for Penn, said the company did not submit a larger fee because of “the continued gray area around the refundability of these fees.”
“We have made clear to the state in our submission that we are designing the facility for at least the full statutory allotment of (3,000 slot machines) and will submit the remaining fees upon licensing,” Bailey said.
It remains to be seen how that strategy will play out.
“I’m not really sure what the gray area would be,” said Donald C. Fry, chairman of the state commission that selects casino locations. “We’ve answered that question several times.”
Over the coming months, Fry said the commission will evaluate proposals “based on the number of machines that have been requested and paid for.”
He said it is possible for applicants to amend their proposals during the review process but that such changes are at the discretion of the commission, based on several criteria in state law.
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