Even as slot machine supporters and detractors are digging in for a final and likely nasty showdown, a gambling bill passed in the House of Delegates virtually unnoticed.

The Prince George's County delegation pushed through the House a bill allowing charitable "casino nights."

This is more of a political hot potato than it may seem at first glance. House Speaker Michael Busch, the leading opponent of slot machines at the racetracks, joined 95 of his colleagues in casting a vote in favor of the casino nights, explaining that he was deferring to the Prince George's delegation. (There is an unwritten rule in Annapolis that legislators should support a delegation's decision on a bill if it only applies to its home county. They're called courtesy bills.)

But this year's casino night bill is more compelling than most pieces of courtesy legislation. Prince George's had casino nights until 1997, but then-Gov. Parris N. Glendening refused to reauthorize the casino nights because of numerous troubles - shortfalls, alleged skimming, etc. A bill to restore them in 1998 was killed by a Senate committee.

In May 1996, the county shut down an Oxon Hill casino, run by the Combined International Phillippine American Association, after auditors found a $500,000 shortfall. Later that year, it shut down a casino run by the Landover Hills Boys and Girls Club for lacking proper controls.

Why did charities get all this attention? Big money was changing hands. These operations had little in common with Knights of Columbus bingo.

Although the firehalls didn't look much like Las Vegas or Atlantic City, the games they were offering were very real. According to press reports, it wasn't unusual to see people betting $100 or more on a blackjack or poker hand.

The 16 casinos operating between 1993 and 1995 took in $77 million combined over the three-year period. A county prosecutor's report said some of the more successful casinos could take in as much as $100,000 a night. Some were operating several nights a week and offering such Vegas-style conveniences as free buffets and valet parking.

Del. Obie Patterson, D-Prince George's, is a strong supporter of the new bill. He said new regulations - most notably a six-month licensing process and tighter accounting standards - will keep problems to a minimum. Only card games and roulette are allowed.

"And the county is going to get 20 percent of the proceeds instead of the 10 percent they got before," he said. "It's earmarked for education. That's a very good thing."

But isn't it odd that a House so divided over gambling would give an overwhelming stamp of approval to casino nights?

"It's not slots; it's a totally separate issue," Patterson said.

'Anti-business' bill frustrates delegate

Del. J. B. Jennings, the freshman legislator we're following this year, came to Annapolis with a bipartisan attitude.

The Baltimore County Republican is a moderate on most issues, but he couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the Democrat-led House Ways & Means Committee's plan to balance the budget.

The bill included a provision to increase corporate filing fees from a flat $100 per year to a sliding scale ranging from $400 to $20,000.

"As a businessperson, there was no way I could support that," said Jennings, who owns a feed store in Monkton.