Speaker to be Bill DeWeese is drafting legislation allowing the new casinos to add table games like blackjack and poker to their attractions. This would permit full gambling in addition to the current slots. I think the table games are a bad idea. Let's leave the heavy duty casino games to places like Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
We're only now embarking on this entire gambling experience. No one in Pennsylvania has any experience managing and overseeing that type of gambling and I fear an influx of bad people (if you get my drift) trying to take control of the casinos and casino unions. We don't need any more mob activity in the state and this is a huge lure for that type of operation.
The slots should be sufficient to raise the funds we need to make substantial cuts in property taxes. There remain other alternatives to lowering this tax burden before we consider blackjack tables.
There should be a referendum in PA on any gambling expansion.
There should be a 10-fold increase in the fees if the casinos are able to do more than just slots. They sold the $50-million licenses without an auction. They were too cheap and that needs to be fixed.
Finally, the expansion needs to come with a sunset. So, allow table games for $500-million for 20 years. Then the license goes away or a renewal, when our children can decide what to do next.
Posted by: Mark Rauterkus | December 03, 2006 at 05:32 PM
Good points. I really like those ideas Mark.
Posted by: John Morgan | December 03, 2006 at 05:39 PM
Sometimes I tnink PA is one of the most corrupt states in the country. Alcohol is sold by the state, for what reasons I am not sure. Now casino games are okay? I know they are not related, but it just shows me the messed up priorities in this state. Does DeWeese think Rendell will be pressured into signing it? The thing is, once they allowed slots, I knew that tables games wouldn't be far behind.
Posted by: Ghost of Tom Joad | December 03, 2006 at 08:40 PM
Other states have adopted slots without adding table games. What makes this suspicious is the large influx of money gambling interests gave the Party this past year. Our Dems were awash in it and this, obviously, is why.
Posted by: John Morgan | December 03, 2006 at 11:07 PM
They are beholden. As Mark mentioned, they should have auctioned the licenses off. Illinois did it(I believe), and the prices they received per license were a lot more. It's so sad that we can't get legislators that are more ethical. They should be ashamed.
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Posted by: John Morgan | December 05, 2006 at 09:07 AM