Arundel voters approve slots parlor

Cordish will build casino at Arundel Mills, to open in 2012

Voters approved slots in Maryland in a statewide referendum two years ago, allowing 15,000 slot machines in five counties. But the slots program has been mired in turmoil. Only one casino has opened so far: Hollywood Casino Perryville, a 1,500-machine parlor in Cecil County.

The Jockey Club failed to come up with the deposit for an Arundel license, and when Cordish won the license with his proposal to build a casino at Arundel Mills, many were surprised because they thought slots were destined for the race track.

Chuckas, though, had said the Jockey Club wanted another shot and would have submitted a "first-class bid" for slots at Laurel Park if the referendum failed.

With Question A's approval, the Cordish Cos. now only need final permitting approval from the county – a procedural step considered a formality.

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Baltimore Sun reporters Andrea Siegel and Susan Reimer contributed to this article.

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