Pocono News Section

Unresolved Issues Could Delay Mt. Airy Opening

Unresolved Issues Could Delay Mt. Airy Opening - Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at 08:36AM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Wednesday, Oct 3, 2007 @08:36am EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- The new Mount Airy Casino Resort must address several issues before it can open its doors in less than two weeks. The Gaming Control Board outlined those issues during a meeting held in Scranton Tuesday.

Members of the board were asked about an alleged grand jury investigation of casino license holder Louis DeNaples.

DeNaples's attorneys told WBRE News the Mount Airy Casino Resort will open October 15th despite an apparent lack of approval of some stipulations set by the control board.

Mary DiGiacomo Colins, Chairperson of the PA Gaming Control Board, said, “It will be opened when we're satisfied everything was properly done.”

The board appeared unfazed with the casino's fast-approaching, self-imposed grand opening. Meanwhile, board members took heat from more than a dozen people who bill themselves “Casino-Free Philadelphia.”

Philadelphia resident Daniel Hunter said, “We believe this has been a corrupt process and there's a lot of questions out there that haven't been addressed.”

Hunter wants a proposed Philly casino out of his neighborhood. He and other supporters say the Gaming Control Board has shut them out and does not include the public in decisions.

Peggy Banaszek of Casino-Free Philadelphia said, “From its inception, it was rather sneaky. It was completely sneaky and I'm very disappointed with our representatives.”

Anne Dicker said, “This process is not open, not transparent. It's not good government.”