Poll: One casino in Philly is enough

Philadelphia remains evenly split on whether casinos are good or bad for the city, but a strong majority says one is enough, according to a Franklin & Marshall College/

Daily News

Poll released today.

The poll shows that 45 percent of city residents think casino gambling is more positive than negative for Philadelphia, and 45 percent say it is more negative.

But 58 percent of those polled say one casino is enough for Philadelphia, and 38 percent said a second should open here.

The city was split in a January 2007 poll, which showed 43 percent favored two casinos here and 47 percent opposed them.

Since then, the SugarHouse casino has opened in Fishtown (in September), and the state Gaming Control Board has revoked (in December) the license for the Foxwoods casino in South Philly.

Former Gov. Ed Rendell, who pushed for the 2004 gambling law that created two casino licenses for Philadelphia, last month said that the General Assembly should consider whether the second license should be moved from the city. Rendell left office last month.

Legislation to put the second license up for bid statewide is pending in Harrisburg.

The Gaming Control Board revoked the Foxwoods license for lack of development. The casino's investors have challenged that decision in court.