Md. Casinos Will Soon Be Open Around The Clock

ARUNDEL MILLS, Md. (WJZ) -- Rolling the dice around the clock. Maryland Live! Casino will soon stay open 24 hours a day. The move was approved Thursday.

Meghan McCorkell has more on the impact this could have on the economy.

The move was signed off on by the Lottery and Gaming Commission Thursday morning. Now Maryland Live! plans to open its doors on December 27 for good.

The bright lights of Maryland Live! Casino will soon stay lit 24 hours a day.

Later this month, the casino will open and stay open.

"We'll actually open up the morning of the 27th and we will not shut down again," said Casino General Manager Robert Norton.

Norton says it's a hand customers want dealt.

"That means that I will be up here a bit more frequent," said Ted Milligan.

It's a win for gamblers and also a jackpot for the state.

"They get 67 percent of every dollar we make at this point and we anticipate this will be about a 10 percent increase to our revenues as a result of staying open 24 hours," Norton said.

Along with Maryland Live!, the Casino at Ocean Downs and Hollywood Casino at Perryville will stay open 24 hours a day on weekends and then keep limited hours on weekdays.

Casinos became allowed to operate 24 hours a day when voters passed Question 7 in November. The passing of Question 7 will also allow table games.

"It's the number one reason people have told us that they haven't come here, it's because we didn't have live table games," Norton said.

That will change this spring when 150 live tables of poker, blackjack and craps hit the floor.

"I don't know how to play them but I want to learn how to play them," said Laverne Mathod.

The extended hours and live gaming are a big bet that's expected to bring in an extra 1,200 workers to Maryland Live!

Construction to put in the new table games at Maryland Live! will begin in January.

Until now, casinos were only allowed to stay open until 2 a.m. on weekdays and 4 a.m. on weekends.