Pocono News Section

PA Table Games Bill Clears Major Hurdle

PA Table Games Bill Clears Major Hurdle - Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 08:15AM EST

Reported by: Mark Hiller
Wednesday, Jan 6, 2010 @ 08:15am EST
HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN COUNTY - It's one down and one to go for legislation to legalize table games at Pennsylvania slots parlors.

The House will take up a bill, Wednesday, that the Senate approved a day earlier on a 28-22 vote.

The bill represents a compromise this week by the state House-Senate Conference Committee after a year long debate.

The measure would allow table games at all 14 Pennsylvania slots casinos -- marking the first major expansion of gambling since state lawmakers legalized casinos in 2004.

Established casinos like Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Plains Township would be allowed to have up to 250 table games and the opportunity to host poker tournaments.

The state is relying on casino fees to cover a $250 million budget shortfall that had Governor Ed Rendell warning of state employee cutbacks.

He threatened to lay off 1,000 state workers unless he had a table games bill on his desk to sign by the end of the week.

Mohegan Sun management stated last year that it would use existing casino floor room to house table games and would be ready to offer table games for customers to play within 6-months of approved legislation.

All that's standing in the way of that is expected approval by the house -- which should happen today