Penn Lawmaker Proposes Change to Slot Machine Gambling

A top Democratic lawmaker said he may propose an amendment to Pennsylvania's slot-machine gambling law to ensure that a slots parlor ends up in either Beaver or Lawrence counties. The Democratic House whip, Michael Veon of Beaver County, said the move may make sense in light of the grindingly slow process of awarding the state's last harness racing license, which qualifies the holder for one of the 14 slots licenses that will be awarded by gambling regulators.

The Pennsylvania State Harness Racing Commission has rejected the applications of the two businesses that applied for the last harness license, although that decision is being appealed to the Supreme Court. Centaur Inc., an Indianapolis developer, wants to build Valley View Downs in Veon's Beaver County district, while Lawrence County businessman Carmen Shick wants to build Bedford Downs.

Both sites are northwest of Pittsburgh. Veon said it may make sense to change the slots law to allow the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to award the slots license to an applicant from either county, with or without a racing license. The slots license should be set aside for western Pennsylvania because several other slots licenses likely are bound for eastern Pennsylvania, he said.

June 27, 2006
Posted By Bob Hartman
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com    Previous Page | Internet Gambling | Top Online Casinos | Submit News!

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