In February 2011, Penn National Gaming purchased Rosecroft Raceway out of bankruptcy. In our commitment to the community, the state and the state’s racing industry we committed to two years of live racing, knowing that we would take a loss in our operations.

From the beginning, Penn made it very clear that the long-term viability of racing at Rosecroft Raceway was dependent on a gaming facility at Rosecroft Raceway. Over the past several months we have worked to have Prince George’s County included as a sixth site in the state – with expectation that if gaming were approved on the 2012 November ballot we would have to compete for a license against any other bidder through the state selection committee process.

All of this changed suddenly when Prince George’s County Executive, Rushern Baker, announced on February 16, 2012 that he was backing a proposal to put gaming at National Harbor. Not only did he announce his support but also to the surprise of many around the county, he had conducted an economic impact study on the possibility of gaming at National Harbor. He sought no input from the community at large or any of our many leaders.

On February 22, 2012 Mr. Baker testified at the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee hearing on SB 892 – the bill that would authorize gaming in Prince George’s County. At that hearing, Mr. Baker presented several amendments to the committee for consideration (once again, with no input from the community), one of which would explicitly state that National Harbor be the location for gaming in the county.

We have decided to dedicate this website to fight against the National Harbor giveaway and make the case why Rosecroft is the place for gaming in Prince George’s County.

Why Rosecroft is the Best Location for Gaming in Prince George's

For over 50 years gambling has existed at Rosecroft Raceway. Over the last couple of decades racing as a standalone business has declined dramatically.

In 2008, the Maryland Legislature passed legislation authorizing slots in the state.

One of the big reasons for this legislation was to help revitalize racing as many in the horse industry were moving to neighboring states while Maryland’s storied horseracing industry dwindled. After the failure of locating a slots location at Laurel (in Anne Arundel County) only one racetrack in the state has slots (Ocean Downs in Worcester County on the Eastern Shore). Rosecroft Raceway is the last remaining option for gaming at a track in the State of Maryland.

According to a press release from Governor O’Malley on May 20, 2011 the horse industry accounts for 28,000 jobs and over half a million acres in farmland in our state.

Due to the commitments of Penn National, simulcasting and live racing have returned to Rosecroft Raceway. Employees who were laid off when Rosecroft closed its doors in 2009 were brought back to work.

Click Here to Learn More About Rosecroft Raceway’s Gaming Proposal

The Real Deal Behind National Harbor

County Executive Rushern Baker has decided to pick winners and losers in this county in his recent endorsement of National Harbor as a gaming location in Prince George’s County. He and the developers of National Harbor (The Gaylord Hotels and the Peterson Companies) have proposed a billion dollar Las Vegas style casino. But there is a catch – actually a lot of them:

A billion dollar investment is dependent on a favorable tax environment, according to a statement from Gaylord and Peterson Companies, as reported by the Washington Business Journal
In County Executive Baker’s Maryland Gaming Market Analysis, he bases all of his economic assumptions on a greatly reduced gaming tax rates – specifically a 42.5% tax rate for the National Harbor casino (compared to the 67% tax that the rest of the state’s casinos pay). This is a 37% tax cut!

Click here to find out more facts about the National Harbor proposal

Will Rushern Baker Destroy Rosecroft?

Click here to read the Washington Examiner Article
Click here to read the Maryland Gazette Article
Click here to read the Washington Times Article

HISTORY OF ROSECROFT

Opened in 1949, Rosecroft Raceway is the oldest harness-racing facility in the state of Maryland. Find out more about the history of Rosecroft Raceway
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CHARITABLE GIVING

Learn more about Penn National's long history of supporting the organizations in the communities where they operate.
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STATE OF THE STATE REPORT

See where Maryland ranks in comparison with other states.
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ROSECROFT RACEWAY GAMING MARKET ASSESSMENT

What is the forecasted revenue from gaming in Prince Georges County?
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