Rendell Questions Whether Philly Needs 2nd Casino
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Rendell Questions Whether Philly Needs 2nd Casino
Chris Brennan
Gov. Rendell this morning said it is a "fair question" for the state General Assembly and the Gaming Control Board to consider whether Philadelphia needs a second casino. The Gaming Control Board on Dec. 16 revoked the license for a group of local investors with close political ties to Rendell who planned to open a casino on Columbus Boulevard at Reed Street in South Philly.
Rendell noted that SugarHouse is open for business on Delaware Avenue in Fishtown while the Parx Casino in Bensalem and Harrah's in Chester are just a short drive on Interstate 95. There is also the chance of a smaller resort style casino in Valley Forge. Rendell said he wants Pennsylvania casinos to take business from surrounding states but not from each other.
"I think we'll have to take a look at that and see if there's another part of the state that is under-served," Rendell said. "The one thing we don't want to do is cannibalize business. So I think it's a fair suggestion that someone take a look at that."
As we reported on Dec. 23, there are Republican and Democratic legislators in Harrisburg preparing legislation to alter the 2004 state law that guaranteed two casinos in Philadelphia. The local investors behind the Philadelphia casino that would have been called Foxwoods are expected to file a legal challenge to the Gaming Control Board's decision to revoke their license.
Comments (31)
So after the group with ties to him had the license revoked, then he questions if a 2nd casino is needed? He is pathetic— robtpenn- True, one casino is enough for an area. Look at Atlantic City and Las Vegas, with their casinos killing each other because of more than one casino in town. We don't need a free market here!— snjgwmc
- Rendell admitting that maybe he made a mistake in wanting 2 casinos in philly. It's a sign from the Apocalypse and the world will be coming to an end. I met him 1993 and that man never ever admitted to a mistake before. Hopefully he is getting better with age which is about time and he won't run for mayor.— JoseDeLeon
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- pretty sure he was joking. — mdelrossi1
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- Only these stupid posters could turn this into a negative. Rendell effectively kills another casino where the investors have ties to him, and some how this is bad? Somehow the people who say he is corrupt will deny that this ever happened?— Capsulef
- Those investors are out, their license has been revoked so there's no more gain for Eddie and his gang. If we can't have it no one can? I guess this is the I'm taking my ball and going home method of goverance. — Twocents
- Nice move Eddy you've got the backbone of a sand dune. First these were to be slot barns - no table gaming, no way - that was the only way he could crowbar gaming into the state. As soon as the first few get built then "hey wouldn't these places make way more revenue if we added the table games that popular opinion in this state said it never wanted. I don't have any problem with the casinos myself (people find an outlet for gambling no matter what so let our state make a buck to help fund the societal cost of this vice) but I do have a problem with such a blatant shell game being played on us by the head executive of our state. That he pulls his long standing support as soon as there is no gain for him is just a parting example of his integrity.— Twocents
- I don't have a problem with the casinos either. But I gave them my strong vocal support on the promise of their contribution to the Thoroughbred Horse Industry. Already that promise is being compromised by some of our self-serving legislators (are there any other kind?).
As far as the "shell game" angle is concerned I don't really have much to complain about because from the beginning it was implied that slots were only a teaser. It's that shell game to end all shell games involving "weapons of mass destruction" that still has me reeling. - Another group must be paying him now to put a casino elsewhere.
- Where is the evidence that he "killed" it? He's only agreeing with the action. Rendell not corrupt? Now's that's stupid.— Bob1
- Yeah, so many parties dropped the ball when it came to casino development in Philadelphia it would be hard to blame a single culprit. One thing is certain, The Nutter Administration did nothing to make sense out of the confusion. In fact when it comes to legacies The Nutter Administration can crow about their singular contribution to city life: The incredibly well thought out donation of exactly half the space of two major streets to a couple of bicycles at the direct expense of cars, delivery vehicles, buses and emergency vehicles.
- No casino at the bottom or reed street! Way to go! Now we are left with the old desolate wasteland and barbed wire we've had for years. SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING WITH THIS LAND AND GIVE US A RESPECTABLE WATERFRONT!— cemego
- Agreed! Now if only the city and state would pull their heads out and use that space for something that actually benefits the public ... for example a park, since South Philly has hardly any park space. — RGTasker
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- Seriously, for those thinking people, most Third Class cities in the state are broke on the backs of municipal pensions and would welcome a slot parlor or full blown casino— robtpenn
- Parx ruined Bensalem, yes residents get $300 a month for it but they used to host the fair, Mazda challenge, BMW Test Drive and there was no traffic to deal w/ on Street Rd. I hope it goes bankrupt along w/ other casinos in this state. Who wants to contribute to the pockets of all these cronies since the state takes most of the profit, not even the casinos do.— TRDSupra
- Governor Rendell would best serve the citizens of Pennsylvania by stuffing a tube sock in his mouth until his term ends in two weeks.— BillyFortune
- Governor Rendell would best serve the citizens of Pennsylvania by stuffing a tube sock in his mouth until his term ends in two weeks.— BillyFortune
- they all should have been bid out competitively in the first place.— dreinterests
- You axed Ed Rendell???? The answer is"nothing like a monopoly for the privileged few...."— SouthPhillyDemocrat
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- No, Sugarhouse is doing much less revenue than expected. http://citypaper.net/blogs/clog/2010/12/21/saturation-point-even-without-foxwoods-sugarhouse-is-way-behind-projections/
And since all these casinos offer basically the same product (in this case they are pretty much required to) there is no reason to think that a second casino a mile and half down Delaware Ave would do anything more than cannibalize half the business off the first. Unless the customers are all coming from within a mile away that is. As always, Rendell's first concern is the financial health of his constituents: casino owners.— RGTasker - Comment removed.
- Rendell wants to "see if there's another part of the state that is under-served." Under-served? That seems like an appropriate word to use for schools or health clinics, not casinos. He seems to be more dedicated to the financial health of casinos than the to people he's supposed to serve. Good riddance at last, not that Corbett will be any better.— RGTasker
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Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns. E-mail tips to brennac@phillynews.com
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans. E-mail tips to ransomj@phillynews.com
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Sean Collins Walsh is from Bucks County and went to Northwestern University. He joined the Daily News copy desk in 2012 and now covers the Nutter administration. Before that, he interned at papers including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times. E-mail tips to walshSE@phillynews.com
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Follow Chris on Twitter
David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
Follow Dave on Twitter.
Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans. E-mail tips to ransomj@phillynews.com
Follow Jan on Twitter
Sean Collins Walsh is from Bucks County and went to Northwestern University. He joined the Daily News copy desk in 2012 and now covers the Nutter administration. Before that, he interned at papers including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times. E-mail tips to walshSE@phillynews.com
Follow Sean on Twitter
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