Electronic poker rumors in Maryland?

[blutarski]

I've heard that Maryland is beta testing electronic poker tables at a few race tracks. Not video poker, but the electronic version of the table game that's popping up at some casinos.

I'm skeptical, since there is still massive resistance to slots here.

Anyone heard this rumor of have any other info about it?

I work in Baltimore.

Come on dealer, one time. ONE TIME!

[Coy_Roy]

What do you mean "rumor"?

Either they're beta testing them, or they are not.

You work in Baltimore, so go check Pimlico.

[KEW]

This would make too much sense for MD..MD horse racing is dead...Poker rooms and slots would be perfect to rejuvenated the industry..

[blutarski]

"Rumor" as in a co-worker heard the head of the Md. Lottery Commission talking about it on a local am station, but couldn't remember all the details.

I drove by Pimlico today, but there wasn't a sign that said, "Hay, play some poker here!" I can't imagine they're doing public tests when poker rooms aren't yet legal in Md.

[NickMPK]

I think this is highly unlikely. I was a fiscal analyst for the Maryland General Assembly this past legislative session (I recently left this job), and gaming bills was one of the areas I worked on. No one ever introducing a bill even mentioning poker. There is a much greater likelihood that slots will be legalized in the 2008 session, but I have never heard any of the relevant parties discussing poker.

[tangled]

[ QUOTE ]

I think this is highly unlikely. I was a fiscal analyst for the Maryland General Assembly this past legislative session (I recently left this job), and gaming bills was one of the areas I worked on. No one ever introducing a bill even mentioning poker. There is a much greater likelihood that slots will be legalized in the 2008 session, but I have never heard any of the relevant parties discussing poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

But OP said "electronic" poker tables. I thought the laws that allow slots, also, could allow E-poker tables because the statutory wording that allows slot machines is usually "electronic games", and E-poker tables can slide in under that wording. (?)

[NickMPK]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

I think this is highly unlikely. I was a fiscal analyst for the Maryland General Assembly this past legislative session (I recently left this job), and gaming bills was one of the areas I worked on. No one ever introducing a bill even mentioning poker. There is a much greater likelihood that slots will be legalized in the 2008 session, but I have never heard any of the relevant parties discussing poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

But OP said "electronic" poker tables. I thought the laws that allow slots, also, could allow E-poker tables because the statutory wording that allows slot machines is usually "electronic games", and E-poker tables can slide in under that wording. (?)

[/ QUOTE ]

Probably not. All of the bills proposed in Maryland use the term "Video Lottery Terminal" to refer to slot machines, where VLT is defined as:

“VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINAL” MEANS ANY MACHINE OR OTHER DEVICE THAT, ON INSERTION OF A BILL, COIN, TOKEN, VOUCHER, TICKET, COUPON, OR SIMILAR ITEM, OR ON PAYMENT OF ANY CONSIDERATION IS AVAILABLE TO PLAY OR SIMULATE THE PLAY OF ANY GAME OF CHANCE IN WHICH THE RESULTS, INCLUDING THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE PLAYER, ARE RANDOMLY AND IMMEDIATELY DETERMINED BY THE MACHINE OR OTHER DEVICE.

This might permit video poker, but not electronic tables where actual poker is played.

[tangled]

tx for the clarification. But I am right, am I not, about how E-poker tables sometimes pop up in other states' facilities that allow only slots? There have been various threads that touch on this in the B&M section. I am wondering if this is the misunderstanding that birthed the "rumor" mentioned by OP: Somebody heard that slots may someday be approved and then jumped to the conclusion, like I did, that E-poker tables might be coming too.