Wynn considers tourist resort for Maryland

Friday, Nov. 29, 2002 | 11:07 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

New details surfaced Thursday about talks between Las Vegas and Chinese casino resort developer Steve Wynn and top Maryland lawmakers to explore proposals for legalizing slots in Maryland.

Wynn, the chairman of Wynn Resorts of Las Vegas and former head of Mirage Resorts Inc., talked about possibly getting involved through one of four horse tracks or at a "tourist destination resort," such as National Harbor in southern Prince George's County, said state lawmaker Howard P. Rawlings.

"His focus is to build a major entertainment complex with racing, slots and entertainment," said Rawlings, a Baltimore Democrat who serves as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Rawlings was among four top legislators Wynn met with separately on a Nov. 20 visit to Annapolis.

Wynn also met with Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller; Del. Michael E. Busch, an Anne Arundel County Democrat who is in line to become the next House speaker; and Del. Sheila E. Hixson, a Montgomery County Democrat whose House committee will handle slots legislation.

Wynn also tried to set up a meeting with Gov.-elect Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., who supports slots, but was unsuccessful, according to Paul E. Schurick, Ehrlich's spokesman.

Ehrlich felt a meeting with Wynn would be "inappropriate" since the casino developer could emerge as a competitor for a license to operate slots in Maryland, Schurick said.

"We want no one to raise any questions ... about the propriety of the process," Schurick said.

Schurick emphasized that Ehrlich favors allowing slots only at four racetracks: Pimlico in Baltimore; Laurel in Anne Arundel County; Rosecroft in Prince George's; and a track to be built near Cumberland in Western Maryland.

Wynn was accompanied during his visits to legislators by Ed Wayson, whose family runs a bingo hall in Anne Arundel County. Wayson declined to discuss the details of Wynn's visit to Annapolis, saying he was asked to refer calls to Wynn's company. Officials there would not comment on Wynn's meeting with Maryland legislators.

Rawlings said that when he met with Wynn, the casino operator brought up National Harbor as an ideal site for a casino-style gambling operation.

National Harbor is a $1.5 billion commercial hotel and entertainment complex under development at the foot of the Woodrow Wilson bridge, just off the Washington Beltway.

Rawlings said he favors restricting slots to the four tracks. But he said that he could envision some Prince George's legislators seeking to license slots at National Harbor rather than at the nearby Rosecroft harness racing track.

It is not clear how Wynn could get involved in legalized gambling ventures in Maryland if the state only allows slots at four tracks, as Ehrlich and key legislative leaders want.

"He either has to buy a racetrack, or he has to enter into a relationship with one of the racetrack owners," Rawlings said.

Wynn Resorts, in the meantime, is building a $2.4 billion casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip and is developing a casino on the Chinese island city of Macau.