The I-Team’s review found many of the complaints are unsupported by state data but are written in forceful language. Several of those formal complaints were obtained by the I-Team through state of Freedom of Information Act laws. The request to allow lower payouts comes amid criticism from some gamblers about “tight slot machines” at D.C.-area casinos.
Maryland slot machines, formally referred to as video lottery terminals, pay out slightly less on average than they did in 2012, the I-Team’s review found. Maryland Lottery and Gaming Commission formally approved the proposed change in state regulation, but timing of a final decision by state officials has not yet been decided.Ī review by the News4 I-Team found Maryland casino slot machines have an average payout that trails those in some casinos in neighboring states but is higher than the average payouts in some casinos in West Virginia and New Jersey. Maryland casinos are asking permission to lower the average payouts of their slot machines by as much as 3 percent.
