Last Friday may have been the cut-off date for the public to submit written comments to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) but this has not put an end to the warring pro and anti casino voices. In Lehigh County yesterday there was a hearing pushing the view that gaming was wrong for Lehigh Valley, where Aztar Corp has a casino project for Allentown. Today there is a report from the Lehigh County Conference of Churches refuting casino operator claims of economic benefits.

Casinos will stress housing, job markets, foster addiction – these are the views of the local Conference of Churches. Stating that the typical salary for a casino worker will be barely above the poverty level and unable to cover housing costs in the area, the article then continues to say that casino wages will affect the ability of small businesses to hire and keep wages and benefits down. It would seem that the Churches are arguing against better pay and working conditions for those in traditionally low paid jobs.

Bidding for a casino licence in Pennsylvania or anywhere else is neither easy nor cheap. In Limerick, the only place in the state where a casino project has been opposed by the local host government, Boyd Gaming is keeping a low profile. Its application is with the PGCB but the company did not take the opportunity to make a closing statement. Boyd also cancelled an appearance before a community group and has disconnected its local telephone. The company appears to have wisely adopted a policy of not sending good money after bad.

Although there will always be those who are against casino developments, in general the people of Pennsylvania seem to support the addition of slot machine gaming in the state, or at least to not oppose it. At yesterday’s anti-gambling forum in Allentown, attended by a crowd of around 30, a councilor against slot machine licensing was quoted as saying: “something like this is like a grass-roots rebellion that can lead to a repeal of this thing.'' Clutching at straws springs to mind. (E-06.08.06)

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