State Sen. Again Tries To Cut City Casino License

State Sen. John Wozniak, a Johnstown Democrat, is once again seeking to change the section of the 2004 state gaming law that provides for two casino licenses in Philadelphia, one week after the state Gaming Control Board pulled the plug on the long-stalled Foxwoods project in South Philly.

Wozniak, in a statement just released, said there are "plenty of developers" across the state that would get to work on the license. "Years of delay have cost taxpayers millions and there is no logical reason for it," he said.

Wozniak, who failed with similar legislation earlier this year, said the city should not have a lock on two licenses. "Rural Pennsylvania needs jobs and economic development as much as the rest of the state," his statement said. "No door should be closed."

Jim Ginty, a Gaming Control Board member appointed by Gov. Rendell, said during last week's vote on the Foxwoods project that he worried the General Assembly would take the casino license from Philadelphia.  The project was projected to create 650 construction jobs and then 1,200 casino jobs.  The city's first casion, SugarHouse, opened in September.