Maryland bill would allow casino owners to contribute to political campaigns

Maryland Del. Jon Cardin has introduced a bill that would allow casino owners to make political campaign contributions, aiming to create what the Baltimore County Democrat said would be an equal playing field. House Bill 54 would allow gaming license holders, or casino owners, the ability to make contributions to state legislators. Cardin, the bill’s sponsor, said the law would allow for the equal treatment of similar entities in the gambling world. Currently, casinos are the only entities banned from making campaign contributions in Maryland after lawmakers passed a law in 2012 meant to stem the lucrative industry’s influence over the Maryland General Assembly. The state legislature legalized slots in 2008 and then table games in 2012.