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Rawlings-Blake Backs Expanded Gambling Bill

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is expressing support for expanding gambling in Maryland.

The mayor expressed her support in a letter Friday to House Speaker Michael Busch and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Sheila Hixson to allow table games and a casino in Prince George's County.

The mayor writes that allowing games like blackjack will enable a future Baltimore casino to overcome competitive disadvantages with casinos in neighboring states.

Rawlings-Blake says she had some concerns about allowing a sixth casino in the state in Prince George's County. However, she says her concern has been allayed by a provision in a bill passed by the Senate would impose a 10 percent tax on table games that will go to local governments.

A hearing on the bill is scheduled for Tuesday.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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