Max Smith, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Maryland will take the next step toward opening a casino in Prince George’s County this week when the Video Lottery Facility Location Commission releases a request for detailed plans from all companies hoping to win the license.
Despite a number of high-profile endorsements, MGM’s expected bid to build the casino at National Harbor is not a sure thing, since Rosecroft Raceway and other sites in the area are also eligible.
Companies will have a few months to put their bids together after the request for proposals is posted this coming Wednesday.
State law requires the bids to be judged based on factors, such as the amount of money that will come into the state, the number of people who will visit the casino, the number of jobs that will be created or preserved and the construction plans for the casino, itself.
Another factor to be considered is the existing transportation infrastructure around the facility.
The commission hopes to award the license by the end of 2013, and the casino could open in 2016.
The Prince George’s County casino is expected to offer table games along with up to 3,000 slot machines. Existing casinos in the state, such as Maryland Live!, plan to start offering table games this spring. Maryland voters approved the new casino and table games on Election Day .
Follow @WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)