Nothing stands still for long in the gaming industry. Just seven months after the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Pennsylvania opened its slots operation, electronic card games with simulated dealers have been added. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has decreed that the games are slot machines, but they bring the operation one step closer to table games and competing on equal terms with casinos in neighbouring states.

Racetrack casinos with slot machines are now up and running in Pennsylvania, bringing larger than expected returns to both operators and state. There will be more competition when the stand-alone operations open, but some of these are still being delayed by legal challenges. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has just rejected an appeal by a group of residents and civic associations trying to prevent a casino development in South Philadelphia.

The judges have ruled that the residents have no legal standing to challenge the licensing decision by the PGCB. There are three other groups that have also filed challenges to the Foxwoods Resort Casino being built, but none has been granted standing. There is also a case pending on the two PGCB licence awards to Foxwoods and SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia, brought by a losing bidder. The winning licence holders and the state are anxious to avoid further delays to the slot machine projects.

Every delay means less tax money for Pennsylvania and less profit for the operators. The question of bringing in legislation to allow live table games is already being discussed, although the Governor has said he wants to await impact reports from the 14 slots licences granted. Virtual table games will be as close to reality as possible for the time being, but then nothing stands still for long in the gaming industry. (E-06.07.07)

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