Maryland Battle Over Slot Machines        

You would think that Maryland would have given up on their slot machines by now, but they have not. They are bound and determined to get them up and running if it kills them. They are sure that they are getting closer as they have real time lines now as to when slot machines might be open for business, but they have another hurdle to jump first. 

The battle is on as to who is going to bring in what slot machine into the state. The competition is fierce among slot machine manufacturers and distributors to get on the list of eligible slot machine providers. Each of the casinos that the state is opening are going to need slot machines – and they have to decide which of them are going to get in and which of them are not. The Maryland Lottery Commission is taking the first step in creating the list. 

You will surely see some big names for slot machines – International Game Technology, WMS, Bally, etc. – as they will fall back on tried and true names. But you might see some others as well – perhaps some smaller slot machine companies that might not be as well known. They have to have met the list of requirements in order for them to be able to qualify – but many of them are sure to. 

But it has become incredibly competitive because of the economy to get any slot machine business that you can. So many casinos are holding onto the slot machines that they already have that new sales are down – their only hope is to get a contract with a new casino instead. They have to have the latest technology available and they have to have a good price just to be considered. The stakes get tougher from there.