Bill Filed in Maryland to Allow for Airport Slots

By Jerry Smith Staff Writer Updated: 02/14/2022

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Bill Supporting Slots in Airports

A bill has been filed by lawmakers in Maryland to allow for the placement of slot machines at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Two Republican lawmakers filed the bill last week, and if all goes well it could result in thousands of slots being located at the airport.

Before this can happen, a number of processes have to be completed, and the approval of voters for the expansion of gaming would need to be given.

License applications from operators will need to be submitted by 15th April 2024 at the latest. At present, Maryland has six casinos and retail sports betting facilities. It is thought that mobile sports betting will launch at some point this year.

Generating More Revenue

Airports that already have gambling facilities have seen a lot of activity from those waiting at and visiting the airport. With many spending long periods waiting for flights, some believe that this is an excellent way for the state to make some additional revenue.

Ric Metzgar, who is one of the two lawmakers who filed the bill, said:

Delayed flights, people are still at the airport hanging out, nothing to do, this is a captive audience, and it’s an opportunity for us to get outside money.

Many states are still trying to recover following the financial and economic devastation caused by the global pandemic over the past couple of years, and some believe that this could be a great way to help achieve this goal.

However, there have been efforts to launch slots in the airport before, and they have not come to fruition. A similar bill was filed more than a decade ago back in 2009. In addition, other efforts were made in the past ten years that also failed to gain traction.

If the new bill does go through, it would mean that the airport would be allowed to have more than 3,000 slots onsite.

However, although it is a busy airport that is an operating base for Southwest Airlines, officials from the airport do not believe that it is large enough to accommodate thousands of machines. One official said that it would probably be able to manage around 1,000 slots at the most.

Successes at Other Airports

If the bill is successful, it could certainly be a boon for the state, as has been demonstrated by other airports that have slot machines onsite.

Many will be familiar with the many slots that can be found at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, as well as at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Both of these Nevada airports offer slot facilities, and they are used by many of those who are waiting for flights and those visiting the airports.

This has helped to boost revenue for the state, which is one of the gambling capitals of the world. The two lawmakers in Maryland are now hoping to see similar success in their state by attempting to get the bill passed and have slots installed at the airport. A hearing about the bill is scheduled for February 23rd, 2022.