Casino recommendations to be delayed, again

It's a case of deja vu.

This time last year lawmakers were behind schedule figuring out how best to fix the state's ailing casinos. Recommendations for legislation were due and at the last minute, the deadline was pushed back.

This year is no different.

A state panel studying ways to offer financial aid to casinos has a deadline of Thursday to offer recommendations to the General Assembly. But no recommendations are expected this week.

The last two meetings scheduled for the commission - in December and on Wednesday - were canceled because of scheduling issues, and any official recommendations that could end up in legislation seem at least a week off.

"You know, if you look at the history for anything that has ever been done with the casinos it has always been done at the last minute and I think that is part of the problem," Denis McGlynn, chief executive of Dover Downs, said Wednesday morning.

During the waning hours of last year's legislative session, in June, lawmakers approved a $9.9 million package to help pay casino vendors.

Sen. Brian Bushweller, a Dover Democrat who sponsored last year's legislation, said he hopes to get some recommendations to the Legislature by the end of January.

"I'm not too concerned about that, provided that we have a recommendation during January session," he said. "That's my concern."

Bushweller added that he has some recommendations that he has submitted to the study group. They include a cut to the state's share of table game revenue and credits for marketing and capital expenses.

"I think there is a general consensus on the commission that there is more we need to do, it's just a question of finding a time for the commission to meet so we can hash it out and see exactly what we're going to recommend," Bushweller said.

Contact Jon Offredo at (302) 678-4271, on Twitter @jonoffredo or at joffredo@delawareonline.com.