It all boils down to the fact that in Pennsylvania the House has a Democratic majority and the Senate a Republican majority. The bill to allow table games at the state’s casinos, which was expected to have been approved by now, is still being argued about and Governor Ed Rendell is making contingency plans to prepare for the loss of over 1,000 state employee jobs if the Legislature does not submit the bill by 8 January.

The disagreement is not even about table games but about a prospective third new casino licence. The state budget deal approved in October had presumed that the bill would be passed quickly but the two outstanding resort casino licences have become problematic. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has already awarded one licence to the Valley Forge Convention Center in Philadelphia. Applications for the second licence have been made by the Reading Crowne Plaza Hotel in Wyomissing and Fernwood Hotel & Resort in Bushkill.

Two other potential applicants, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and an investment team with an option to buy Eisenhower Inn & Conference Center near Gettysburg, now say they want a resort casino and the House Democrats suggest a third resort casino licence should be made available. The Senate Republicans disagree but want the bidding opened up so that prospective applicants can compete. Both sides insist that their way is the right way forward to avoid lawsuits against the state. Governor Rendall, who has not taken sides in the argument, says: "I have waited and I have waited and I have waited,” and now must consider state job losses.

Yesterday there was fresh hope that the stalemate can be resolved. Lawmakers, working by way of telephone calls, agreed to allow new applicants to pursue Pennsylvania's last remaining resort casino license and to create another licence in 2017. The Legislature reconvenes on 5 January and it is hoped that the compromise agreed will allow the table games bill to be approved. (E-12.24.09)

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