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Slots May Come To Downtown Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Big money and a big name. That combination might just bring slots to downtown Baltimore.

Alex DeMetrick reports Caesars Entertainment is making its pitch Monday to build and operate a casino.

A lot of expensive footwear made its way through the weeds and rubble of what might finally be Baltimore's slots casino. The lottery commission that will make that decision toured the site on Russell Street, just down from M&T Bank Stadium. It was led by the people who want to build it.

"I think you'll find us to be very good citizens and colleagues here in Baltimore. We'll have a facility that everyone can be proud of," said Gary Loveman, Caesars Entertainment.

The proposal from Caesars Entertainment is a casino called Harrah's Baltimore.

"This will give us an overview of what you would envision, how you see things in place physically," said commission chairman Donald Fry.

The plan is for a $310 million casino and restaurant complex. It would house more than 3,700 slot machines and create 1,200 full-time jobs, and potentially generate tens of millions of dollars in revenue for the city and state.

"This is certainly going to be a proposal that we want to give serious consideration to," Fry said.

Unlike other bids, this one comes with the full $22 million entrance fee and a big reputation.

"We've had an awful lot of years of experience building and managing these facilities. We think that we can bring a very successful venture here in a relatively brief period of time," Loveman said.

Although the commission is under no deadline to make a decision, right now Caesars' proposal is the only real game in town.

If it is selected quickly, Caesars says the casino could be up and running by the end of 2013.

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