The Regular Person’s Guide to the

Maryland Slot Machine Referendum

Slots Operations

The State Lottery Commission would be the authority to regulate the operation of video lottery terminals (slots) for commercial gaming.  The bill also establishes a Video Lottery Facility Location Commission. The Commission would be authorized to limit the number of operation licenses and number of terminals. 

As indicated, in the “Proposed Slots Locations” section of this Regular Person’s Guide to the Slot Machine Referendum, the VLT Facility Location Commission may alter allocations if warranted by an evaluation of market and other factors; however, no more than 4,750 VLTs or slots may be placed at any one location.*

• The State Lottery Commission determines the percentage of video lottery terminal payouts.
  
• The Maryland State Lottery Agency will provide assistance to the Commission.
  
• The operation of video lottery terminals owned or leased (or on lease) by the state will be connected to a central monitor and control system.  This will allow the Commission to monitor all video lottery terminals.
  
• The central monitor and control system will be capable of:
1. Continuously monitoring, retrieving, and auditing the operations, financial data, and program information of all video lottery terminals;
2. Allowing the Commission to account for all money inserted in and payouts made from any video lottery terminal;
3. Disabling from operation or play any slot machine as the Commission deems necessary; and
4. Supporting and monitoring a progressive jackpot system capable of operating one or more progressive jackpots, among other functions that the Commission considers relevant.

• The central monitor and control system will be able to employ a widely accepted gaming industry communications protocol to facilitate the ability of slot machine manufacturers to communicate with the statewide system.**

*Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Maryland Education Trust Fund - Video Lottery Terminals: Fiscal and Policy Note. 2007. 21 August 2008 <http://mlis.state.md.us/2007s1/fnotes/bil_0003/sb0003.pdf>.

** Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Maryland Education Trust Fund – Video Lottery Terminals:  Bill Text. 2007. 27 August 2008. <http://mlis.state.md.us/2007s1/chapters_noln/Ch_4_sb0003E.pdf>

Back to main contents>>

Back to details of the Maryland Slot Machine Proposal>>