More Waiting In Pennsylvania

Published: November 23, 2009 01:43 pm EST

All interested parties are still waiting for legislators in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to finish their quibbling about table games at racinos and casinos, and then wait on the state gaming control board to draw up regulations

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Today, six full weeks after a 101-day delay in passing the state budget ended, and despite governor Ed Rendell’s pleas for action, political infighting in Harrisburg has produced much talk but no compromise on the table games bill.

According to Harrisburg Patriot-News reporter Dan Gleiter, who should know, no action is expected on the bill until after this week’s holiday break, and there will be no games by Christmas, in case you were expecting them.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board says it will take at least six months to draw up regulations, although it has been apparent for some time that a bill of some sort will be forthcoming.

A spokesman for house speaker Keith McCall told Gleiter, “we want to get a good bill, not just any bill to get it done. If we’re not going to raise enough money, then what’s the point?”

One thing the Democrats and Republicans seem to agree on is a license fee of $15 million to run the games. What they can’t agree on is the tax, which Gleiter says now has narrowed to somewhere between 14% and 20%, far closer to agreement than previously.

One item in Gleiter’s story that catches the eye is “whether felony convictions for casino employees could limit their ability to advance in management positions.” How and why that should even be an issue is puzzling. How can someone with a felony conviction be provided with any role in a sport and industry that requires integrity as its bedrock foundation?

Once concerns of political patronage supercede integrity in gaming, the game part is gone, and with it public confidence. We do not know what or who triggered this issue, but it should be a non-issue with every member of the Pennsylvania legislature who cares about integrity.

(Harness Tracks of America)

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