After the state passed its Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act (Gaming Act), signed on 5 July 2004, the Mayor of Philadelphia created the Philadelphia Gaming Advisory Task Force in January 2005 to study the integration and social impact of the two licences to be granted for stand-alone slot machine parlours in the city. The two venues will initially have between 1,500 and 3,000 slot machines but there will be an option to expand to as many as 5,000. The Task Force has now issued its Final Report, which will assist the Mayor in making recommendations to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

There are four areas that the Task Force has considered in its study: Site Evaluation and Design; Economic Impact; Social Impact; and Local Government and Gaming. In thanking the Task Force, Mayor John F Street writes, ‘As the process of introducing gaming into Philadelphia moves into its next phase, with the formal application by interested parties to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for licenses, I am confident the superb, substantive work, and final recommendations of our Gaming Advisory Task Force will play a critically important role in that process.’

Where the Gaming Act affects the local government in Philadelphia, the Task Force has recommended four steps. Step One calls for the establishment of the Philadelphia Gaming Commission (PGC) to coordinate issues such as zoning and design review between casino developers, operators, state Gaming Control Board, neighborhood groups and the City. Step Two suggests that an ethics policy be established by Executive Order to define the actions and activities of members of the PGC. Step Three calls for the PGC to create a Casino Neighborhood Special Services District for each casino neighborhood. Step Four recommends that in 2008 the PGC should make a final report on how the City should handle issues falling outside the special services districts.

The Philadelphia Gaming Advisory Task Force has made a comprehensive evaluation of the impact that gaming will have on the City and, through its recommendations, should enable Philadelphia achieve the rewards that gaming offers whilst minimizing potential problems with traffic flow, irresponsible gambling, etc. As Executive Director Shawn L Fordham summed up, ‘We have tried throughout this report to put the needs of Philadelphia first and not be bound by preconceived ideas and paradigms. We have made every effort to be objective, fair, and unbiased in our analysis on this very important subject. Philadelphia once again has the opportunity to be a shining example of how a city can promote its economic and fiscal well-being and still balance social concerns to implement public policy that can benefit all of Philadelphia.’ (E-10.31.05)

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