2008 April 17 Gambling News, Events and Happenings - Page 4

MONTGOMERY - The House of Representatives refused twice Wednesday to take up a gambling bill aimed at allowing video bingo machines at the Birmingham and Mobile dog tracks.

O’Malley, Franchot exchange barbs The statewide battle over a November referendum that would legalize slot machine gambling in Maryland heated up yesterday with sniping between Gov. Martin O’Malley, the ballot measure’s chief proponent, and Comptroller Peter Franchot, an outspoken opponent.

Utility companies eventually could charge customers more to pay for new power plants, public officials would have to abide by stricter ethics laws and casinos could be banned from building in certain counties under bills sent to Gov. Haley Barbour on Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD Lawmakers Wednesday again rejected a plan to allow smoking in Illinois casinos.

The Illinois Senate late Wednesday rejected a proposal that would have allowed patrons at any of the states casinos to smoke and gamble at the same time.

LAWRENCE An illegal gambling operation at a local market was busted by officers investigating a stolen car report, police said yesterday. Three people were arrested, including a man who was ordered deported in 2001, and the owner of La Vega Market at 252 Lawrence St.

ANNAPOLIS Both sides in Maryland”s slots debate are going for voters” pocketbooks. As the campaigns for and against allowing slot-machine gambling start up, the economy will be a theme for both sides.

Union, yes. Contract, no. That’s the reality right now in Atlantic City, where dealers at four casinos have won elections allowing them to form unions over the past year. But none of the unions has succeeded in getting a contract with any of the gambling…

Maryland’s battle over legalizing slot machine gambling sharply escalated yesterday, with Gov. Martin O’Malley attacking Comptroller Peter Franchot as a hypocrite shortly before Franchot helped kick off a campaign to defeat a November referendum on the issue.