Entrepreneur wants to build slots casino in Arundel

[takeout]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.slots13jan13,0,557918.story
A wealthy entrepreneur who denounced slot machines as the "cancer" of the horse-racing industry now wants to build a slots casino in Anne Arundel County - as a cure for Maryland's ailing racetracks.

Halsey Minor said in an interview yesterday that he still objects to installing slots at tracks and instead wants to develop a standalone casino with the proceeds funding his self-styled crusade to save horse racing. His bid for a slots license would directly compete with an anticipated proposal from Magna Entertainment Corp., which owns the Laurel Park track and has long sought slots to improve business there.
[snip]

Comment: Hmm… Interesting development.

[Track Collector]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.slots13jan13,0,557918.story
A wealthy entrepreneur who denounced slot machines as the "cancer" of the horse-racing industry now wants to build a slots casino in Anne Arundel County - as a cure for Maryland's ailing racetracks.

Halsey Minor said in an interview yesterday that he still objects to installing slots at tracks and instead wants to develop a standalone casino with the proceeds funding his self-styled crusade to save horse racing. His bid for a slots license would directly compete with an anticipated proposal from Magna Entertainment Corp., which owns the Laurel Park track and has long sought slots to improve business there.
[snip]

Comment: Hmm… Interesting development.
Yes, this is certainly interesting. So which one of these two would be better for Maryland racing? IMO I would go with the unproven Mr. Minor. Magna's track record of "improvements" (i.e. Gulfstream Park) along with their poor financial situation does not bode well for them.

[cj's dad]

As a fellow Marylander, isn't it interesting how slots parlors were the great Satan and had no place in, around or near race tracks when we had a Republican in the Gov's house but now that the State is back in the hands of the Dems, slots are suddenly the next best thing to grandmom and apple pie.

[Tampa Russ]

As a fellow Marylander, isn't it interesting how slots parlors were the great Satan and had no place in, around or near race tracks when we had a Republican in the Gov's house but now that the State is back in the hands of the Dems, slots are suddenly the next best thing to grandmom and apple pie.

As a recent transplant to MD, I'm a bit more interested in this place than I used to be. Still, my gut feeling tells me that this state is likely to try and tax the crap out of any slots parlors that manage to come on-line, and with the state of the economy, the amount of revenue that could possibly be used for the benefit of the racing industry will be minuscule. I think it's simply too little, too late.

[takeout]

Yes, this is certainly interesting. So which one of these two would be better for Maryland racing? IMO I would go with the unproven Mr. Minor.Me too. Hard to believe he could be any worse than DeFrancis/Magna. I could be proven wrong but I would have to see it to believe it. Looks to me like there’s nowhere for Maryland racing to go except up or out. Oh yeah, and there’s that little matter of former owner DeFrancis getting roughly 50% of the slots profits for the next TWENTY years. The plot thickens…

[takeout]

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/01_18-58/TOP

[snip]
Halsey Minor, the founder of media company CNET, wants a license to open a standalone casino in Anne Arundel County, a place for only slot machines. No horses, no simulcast or other corollaries often associated with gaming.

The casino's revenues would be used to support a new racetrack that he would build elsewhere in the state, a track capable of competing with Pimlico and Laurel and possibly the future home of the Preakness, he said.

"Why don't we go after a license and use that money to rebuild the thoroughbred racing industry? I'm committed to putting all the money back into Maryland and the industry," Mr. Minor said in an interview yesterday with <i>The Capital.</i>
[snip]

[Bruddah]

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/01_18-58/TOP

"Why don't we go after a license and use that money to rebuild the thoroughbred racing industry? I'm committed to putting all the money back into Maryland and the industry," Mr. Minor said in an interview yesterday with <i>The Capital.</i>[snip]

Mr Minor sounds like the Cat telling the mice he is in favor of doing away with mouse traps. Caveat Emptor. (JMHO) :D

[takeout]

Looks like he’s definitely after Magna. Probably still mad at being stood up for that meeting. Can’t say as I blame him. I have no idea what his ultimate agenda is but I doubt that he could be any worse than what’s gone before.