THE GAMING ISSUE
How it all started
In 2004, the Pennsylvania state legislature legalized slots gambling in the state. In December, the state Gaming Control Board handed out licenses for five stand-alone slots parlors: SugarHouse Casino and Foxwoods Casino in Philadelphia, Sands Bethworks Gaming in Bethlehem, Mount Airy Lodge in Monroe County, and the Majestic Star Casino in Pittsburgh.
LATEST STORY
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is just weeks away from running out of money and is negotiating with gambling operators over the size of a tax surcharge on their revenue.
APPEALS OF GAMING BOARD'S DECISION
Petition to appeal Foxwoods, SugarHouse
Petition by the Society Hill Civic Association, the Queen Village Neighbors Association, the Pennsport Civic Association, among others.
Petition by Neighbors Allied for the Best Riverfront, Bella Vista United Civic Association, the Friends of Penn Treaty Park, among others.
Petition by Casino Free Philadelphia, Northern Liberties Neighbors Asscoation, among others.
Petition by Riverwalk Casino
Owners of Riverwalk Casino have filed a petition appealing the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's denial of their application for a casino license.
Petition by Riverwalk owners.
SLOTS REPORT
In Dec., the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board awarded city licenses to Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia and SugarHouse Casino, both on the Delaware River waterfront. Three other licenses were awarded, one each in Pittsburgh, Bethlehem, and the Poconos. The board's explanation was included in an order that will formalize the licensing decisions.
- Interactive graphic: Philadelphia casino investors
PROPOSED CASINO SITES
Five groups are competing for the right to open and operate a casino in Philadelphia, but only two will be chosen. Two racetrack parlors in the Pennsylvania suburbs have already been approved for licenses. This is an interactive graphic on the proposed and approved casinos.
- Most recent: Pinnacle Entertainment's proposed casino, Philadelphia (PDF, 78 pages, 60 MB)
Other documentation about slots parlors
- Philadelphia Task Force report on locations, August 2005 (PDF, 372 pages, 19 MB).
- Applicants for slots parlor licenses, on state gaming board's Web site. Released Jan. 10, 2006.
SLOTS WEBSITE
Gaming reports
Slots Location Impact Statements
The state intends to post all of the local impact statements on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's Web site. The electronic versions of these reports can be quite large and those interested in downloading multiple reports should be aware that they will use up a lot of computer memory.
The state intends to post all of the local impact statements on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's Web site. The electronic versions of these reports can be quite large and those interested in downloading multiple reports should be aware that they will use up a lot of computer memory.
