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Pennsylvania Posied to Become Major Gambling Destination in 2007

2006 has pushed the state of Pennsylvania into becoming the official hub of the largest commercial gambling establishments across the nation. In just a span of 12 months, Pennsylvania will be hosting slot machine gambling parlors literally on every corner. As more and more gambling establishments are built in Pennsylvania, the gambling industry in the state could double, even triple, its size next year with about 30,000 slot machines at its disposal.

By the year 2009 or 2010, Governor Ed Rendell estimated that the slots machines could rake in as much as $3 billion per year. Residents of the state can expect both the SugarHouse Casino and the Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia to spring up on the opposite sides of the Ben Franklin Bridge. Sooner than later, the Majestic Star Casino will be joining the 2 major sports stadiums of Pittsburgh located on the Ohio River. The Sands BethWorks Casino is also expected to bring new vigor to the closed Bethlehem Steel Corporation. According to Tad Decker, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, if the BethWorks project succeeds, and if Pittsburgh does as well as expected with Philadelphia following the same path, the $3 billion revenue is not impossible to achieve.

In a span of only 14 months, the gaming board has received, reviewed and approved about 11 applications for slot parlors so that they could operate as much as 5,000 slot machines. The main goal of the state's officials is to raise as much money as possible for the state, which will receive half of the amount that the casinos will earn from their casino games. The money that the state earns from the casinos will be allocated for reducing property taxes with a $1 billion goal, set by Ed Rendell. Nonetheless, that amount cannot be obtained until the slot parlors are built and have been running for a year. 6 licenses were awarded to horse racing tracks, aimed at helping revive the slowly dying horse racing industry.

The 5 other casino licenses were awarded to casino establishments that have entered the bidding in a field of 13 competitors, like Harrah's Entertainment Inc. and Las Vegas Sands Corporation. Staunch critics of the casinos have pledged to continue fighting the approval of the licenses and possibly appeal to the Supreme Court. Organizations in Bethlehem, like the Bethlehem Defense Fund and the Valley Citizens for Casino-Free Development, said that they will be appealing the approval of the zoning for the Sand BethWorks project.

Addiction counselors, on the other hand, said that as more slots parlor open, the number of people seeking intervention for their gambling habits will rise, as has happened in other states that have casinos on their turf. Traffic will also be a big concern, especially in the Philadelphia Riverfront and during big games at the Pittsburgh Stadium.

A total of $4 billion will be spent in building the first phase of the slots parlors, but no one really expects that Pennsylvania will be on the same level as Las Vegas and Atlantic City, N.J. Most customers will have to drive for 90 minutes or more to reach these casinos. Since most of the state's slot parlors are located on its borders, many players from other states will flock to the gambling parlors in Pennsylvania. At the Mohegan Sun, located at the Pocono Downs, the northeastern Pennsylvania race track that opened Pennsylvania's first ever slots parlor under a conditional license on November 14th, the slots customers live 60 miles away. According to Jim Wise, Spokesman of the Mohegan Sun, those that come from afar, like Maryland and Virginia, are also likely to go to the Poconos for its attractions.

 

Sunday, January 21 , 2007
Gerald Kernighan