Arundel Mills Casino Still on Track

The operators of the new casino and entertainment complex at Arundel Mills accepted delivery of their first 1,000 slot machines this week, and said they remain on target to open the facility by early June.

Officials from the $500 million Maryland Live! project said construction has moved quickly and credited good working relationships with state and county officials.

“A project like this does not get done at the speed it has without the unbelievably close cooperation and coordination between the public and private side,” said Joe Weinberg, a partner with The Cordish Companies, the main developer of Maryland Live!

Officials spoke Wednesday during a gathering to recognize the first anniversary of the start of construction and to honor the 2,500 workers on the project.

Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold and Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown were in attendance.

The event featured a “topping out” ceremony, in which one of the final pieces of steel was put in place.

“Now we’re on a countdown,” said David Cordish, president and chairman of The Cordish Companies. “Save your money, because we want you to spend it here.”

The will take up 12 acres and will include 4,750 slot machines. The Maryland Lottery is expected to grant final approval for gambling in May.

Maryland Live! general manager Ron Norton said the interior construction is well on its way and he could announce deals with restaurants and retailers as soon as next week.

Cordish described Maryland Lottery officials as “1,000 percent cooperative” in working to get the slot machines delivered.

“It’s a very complicated process, in which the state is buying machines and working with you to select them,” he said. “They’re coming in everyday and we’re still three months from opening, that’s how smoothly it’s gone.”