Prince George's County police are investigating reports of a proliferation of illegal slot machines, known as "gray machines," in liquor stores, convenience stores and coin laundries across the county, State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey said.
County liquor control officials told state lawmakers during a meeting yesterday that they had identified 63 locations where "gaming-type machines" were operating. Ivey (D) said his office recently received a tip about machines at 10 sites.
"We contacted police, who are investigating," Ivey said. "If they find them, we'll definitely prosecute."
Video gambling machines long have been a part of the cultural fabric in some parts of the state. They flourish in the bars on Holabird Avenue in the Baltimore suburb of Dundalk, though bartenders tell customers that the machines are just for fun and don't pay out.
In recent months, however, there have been several reports of gray machines appearing in parts of the state where they were uncommon -- Prince George's and Montgomery counties.
State lottery officials said their employees have seen machines at taverns and coin laundries in Suitland, Riverdale Park and Takoma Park and have expressed concern that they could be siphoning away business from keno and other legal lottery games.
Franklin D. Jackson, who chairs the Prince George's liquor control board, told a House subcommittee yesterday that inspectors have come across video gambling machines in stores across the county and instructed store managers to unplug them.
Prince George's lawmakers said they were enraged by the reports of the machines in their jurisdiction in light of their recent efforts to keep the legislature from locating a slot machine parlor in the county.
"This is the most outrageous thing that I could talk to you about," Del. Joanne C. Benson (D-Prince George's) said of reports so far that many of the machines are in Prince George's. "Why didn't they take the machines to Howard County? Why didn't they take them to Montgomery County?"
Lawmakers said it remains unclear whether the machines are for gambling. Del. Victor R. Ramirez (D-Prince George's) said he has been told the games dispense prizes, not coins.
Jackson said that before a crackdown can occur, he is waiting for state officials to determine whether they are gambling machines.
The distinctions between games of chance that are permitted in Maryland and those that are banned often are thin. Laws in Calvert County, for instance, have enabled the Rod 'N' Reel restaurant to install rows of machines that are nearly identical to the slots found in Las Vegas or Atlantic City but for one key difference -- they dispense redeemable cards to winners instead of coins. Winning cards can be cashed in behind the bar.
Ivey said that there are no provisions to allow those machines in Prince George's, and that this would be the first time in his recollection that such reports have surfaced.
"I have not heard about illegal gambling in the county for a while, but maybe this has been under the radar screen," he said.
County liquor officials told the delegates that they suspect a Baltimore business of offering to sell the machines to area businesses with a claim that they are legal.
Those at the meeting said they wanted police to respond swiftly.
"It is appalling," said Del. Justin D. Ross (D-Prince George's). We need to make sure that the police stomp it out immediately."
