Jobs The Driving Force Behind Gambling Expansion In Pennsylvania

There is no denying that the casino gambling phenomenon is sweeping across the US, and there is a major reason why that has nothing to do with revenue. Employment opportunities have been the driving force behind the movement to expand casino gambling in the US.

In Pennsylvania, lawmakers are closing in on casino gambling expansion. They are debating the issue of bringing table games to Pennsylvania casinos, and if they do so, it could be a major blow to casino gaming on the rest of the East Coast.

Lawmakers have acknowledged the need for additional jobs in the state. Unemployment is up, as it is in most states because of the recession, and lawmakers see expanded gambling at casinos as a way to counter the unemployment rate.

"Our intention would be to hire from the local population and train them accordingly," said Ron Reese, Spokesman for the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, as reported in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Table games are on the fast track to approval in Pennsylvania. The state budget is considerably behind schedule, and a major factor in that budget will be the inclusion of table games for casinos. If approved, it would bring millions of dollars to help balance that budget.

The casinos themselves are waiting anxiously for the final budget to be revealed. They claim that if approved, the table games could become a reality at their establishments in less than half a year. That is six months until more potential bad news for Atlantic City casinos.

"This is very bad news for Atlantic City casinos," said CGW Gaming analyst Brad Dawkins, "already they are losing customers to casinos in New York and Connecticut, but table games at Pennsylvania would throw the entire East Coast casino industry into bedlam."

September 19, 2009
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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