Having failed to reach a legislative vote on his table games proposal last year, Pennsylvania Rep Bill DeWeese has again introduced a bill to give the state’s slots casinos table games, and this time feels confident of success. Others are not so sure and say that the addition of table games would not make an appreciable difference to the state’s US$3.2 billion budget deficit. Governor Rendell believes that all the authorised Pennsylvania slots casinos should be up and running before further gambling expansion should be discussed.

Under the bill casino operators would pay US$10 million in advance to offer table games such as poker, blackjack and craps. The renewal fee would be US$500,000 and an 18% daily gross table revenue tax would be added to the Property Tax Relief Fund. A further 2% would go for local distribution, added to the present slots contribution. An assessment of 1% of daily gross table-game revenue would go to the Department of Agriculture for its Agriculture Education Loan Forgiveness programme, agriculture and rural youth programmes, and payments to county agricultural societies that conduct harness racing at county fairs, for track and stable repair and maintenance.

Another bill on similar lines to that of DeWeese’s is being drafted. Sen Tommy Tomlinson thinks that table games in Pennsylvania would create jobs and enhance gaming revenues by competing better with Delaware and Atlantic City, and plans to introduce his bill soon. Table games could generate an estimated US$200 million to US$300 million a year for the state. DeWeese says that if his bill passes and is signed by Governor Rendell along with the budget, table games could be running at Pennsylvania’s casinos within six months. (E-06.17.09)

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