Slots Headed To Prince George's? Not So Fast, Says Council Member

While talks have intensified to bring slots to Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, one Prince George's council member is pushing legislation to ban them from the county altogether.

During Tuesday's council meeting in Upper Marlboro, Councilman Eric Olson (D-Dist.3) of College Park outlined a plan to ban slot proposals in the county.

“Having slots in the county doesn’t make sense,” Olson was quoted as saying in The Washington Post. “We have record foreclosures . . . Slots could take from people in vulnerable economic positions.”

Developers have been eyeing the Fort Washington track since it closed last summer. Penn National bought the track earlier this year and reopened it this summer. The company has been looking to lobby the Maryland General Assembly to approve a referendum to include slots at the track. 

Rosecroft is the only racetrack in the Capital Beltway and sits less than two miles from National Harbor, the county's multi-billion dollar convention and hotel center. 

Locally, residents in southern Prince George's County have mixed reactions to slots, which Penn National said are needed to keep the track afloat.

Civic and religious groups have opposed gambling, fearing it would lead to increased crime and devalue communities. Proponents contend that revenues and jobs would be created for county residents. Before closing, the track had employed 200 workers. In its heyday, the track was one of the largest employers in that region of the county.

The council is expected to vote on the legislation in the coming weeks.