PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                             Ch. 579

Section 6A-101 through 6A-801, inclusive, to be under the new title "Title 6A.

Gambling Activities"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1902 Volume and 1994 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article—Tax—General
Section 2-201, 4-201, 4-202, and 4-301
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1988 Volume and 1994 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article—Tax—General
Section 2-202 and 4-104(e)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1988 Volume and 1994 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article—Tax—General
Section 2-202, 2-203, 4-101, 4-102, and 4-105
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1988 Volume and 1994 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, Under current Maryland law, lottery and horse racing are authorized
and regulated by the State Lottery Agency and the Maryland Racing Commission,
respectively; and

WHEREAS, Under the State's criminal laws relating to gambling, codified in
Article 27 of the Annotated Code, there are exceptions that permit bona fide nonprofit
and charitable organizations to engage in a variety of gambling activities, including the
operation of slot machines on the Eastern Shore and the conducting of bingo, casino
gambling (including card games, roulette, and dice games), and the use of various
gambling devices and mechanisms throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, There are also exceptions in the State gambling laws that allow
commercial bingo in some counties; and

WHEREAS, Gambling activities are currently licensed or regulated at the local
level in the State in accordance with a diverse set of regulatory and licensing
requirements for each county; and

WHEREAS, There is a growing interest in expanding the business of gambling
activities in the State; and

WHEREAS, In particular, the authorization of casino gambling in the State has the
potential to add significantly to revenues for State and local government; and

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