Maryland lawmakers may have reached a deal on a Las Vegas-style casino for Prince George’s County but they adjourned Wednesday without agreement on how to overturn a court ruling that has left thousands of Maryland pit bull owners in legal limbo.

A recent ruling by Maryland’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, declared pit bulls “inherently dangerous.” It also made Maryland the only state in the country to hold owners and landlords of just one breed strictly liable for injuries caused by their pets.

Prada, a 4-year-old pit bull mix. (Mark Humphrey - AP) The ruling is temporarily on hold while an insurance company asks the court to reconsider, but it could take full effect at any time. Animal rights groups say that could force a crackdown by landlords and make renters choose between keeping their homes or their pets.

Both the Senate and House passed emergency measures to upend the ruling, but the Senate late Tuesday declared the differences between the bills too great to work out a compromise before the four-day session ended.

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, left, and House Speaker Michael E. Busch, take their seats at the start of a bill signing ceremony at the State House in May 2. (Cliff Owen — Associated Press)Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) wasted little time Wednesday in signing an expanded gambling bill that would allow a Las Vegas-style casino in Prince George’s County, as well as table games at the state’s five other authorized slots sites.

“This compromise will put us in a competitive position with surrounding states,” O’Malley said as he signed the bill at approximately 10:30 a.m.

The legislation, on which the General Assembly completed work shortly after midnight, gives voters the final say, in what is expected to be a hard-fought ballot measure campaign.

Update, 6 p.m.: The House has adopted an amendment to the gambling bill that would allow more gaming devices similar to slot machines at halls of veterans organizations.

An amendment was rejected that would split a proposed ballot issue in two: one on a Prince George’s casino, the other on table games. Under the bill as it stands, the entire expanded gambling plan would be subject to a single vote in November.

Update, 4:25 p.m.: The House has just convened. Lawmakers are starting with a bill on liability for pit bull owners.

Update, 3:45 p.m.: Among the issues being discussed behind closed doors is whether to accept an amendment that would expand the number of veterans halls that can offer a limited number of devices similar to slot machines, according to several people familiar with the deliberations.

Update, 3 p.m.: One hour after the House was scheduled to convene, the session has not started. House leaders still appear to be trying to nail down votes for the gambling bill.

The gaming floor at Maryland Live! casino in Anne Arundel County. (Photo by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)Under gambling legislation approved Monday night by the Maryland House Ways and Means Committee, six Maryland casinos would keep varying shares of revenue based on multiple factors.

Other provisions of the bill are more straight-forward: Casinos could keep 80 percent of revenue from table games; facilities would be allowed to stay open 24 hours; and casino owners would be prohibited from making campaign contributions in Maryland.

Here’s a site-by-site rundown of how and when operator shares of slots revenue would change under the House bill:

Update, 4:30 p.m.: A House panel has agreed to bump up the share of proceeds that may be retained by casinos in Anne Arundel County and Baltimore to compensate them for the additional competition in Prince George’s County.

The panel also agreed to strike a provision that would have allowed a temporary table games-only facility in Prince George’s to operate before a full casino opens there.

Update, 11:55 a.m.: In a delegation meeting, Baltimore delegates have taken a unified stand that a Prince George’s casino not be allowed to open for 30 months after Baltimore’s facility opens — a time frame likely to push the Prince George’s launch beyond the July 2016 date in the Senate-passed bill.

The delegation is also pushing an amendment to deny a Prince George’s venue to open temporarily with table games only, as the Senate bill allows.

Update, 11:15 a.m.: The House has recessed until 5 p.m. to allow for committee work and other meetings.

Original Post:

Members of the Maryland House of Delegates are returning to Annapolis on Monday with an opportunity to put their stamp on an expanded gambling bill that passed the Senate on Friday.

Maryland House Speaker Michael E. Busch speaks in front of Gov. Martin O'Malley at a news conference last year. (Patrick Semansky — Associated Press)House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) has indicated there could be several changes, including some “tweaks” to the way the state would compensate other casinos and counties affected by a new gambling venue in Prince George’s County. He’s offered no specifics.

The bill, being considered in a special session called by Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) would allow the new casino, as well as Las Vegas-style table games at Maryland’s five other slots facilities. Both expansions would be subject to voter approval in November.