Philly Still Fighting Slot Machines

Two casinos have gotten permission from the Gaming Control Board to build in Philadelphia. The SugarHouse will build their casino in Fishtown, and Foxwoods will come to South Philadelphia. However, the residents of Philly are not so happy about the Gaming Control Board’s decision. They want the locations of the slot machine casinos changed, and they are fighting the state to get their way.

Residents of Philly want the slot machine casinos located in the industrial areas, and want a limit on how close they can be to churches, playgrounds, schools, and neighborhoods. They were planning on voting on it on a referendum that was slated to go on the May 15th ballot. However, the state Supreme Court stepped in and put an injunction on that referendum, and is not allowing the city to do so.

The city is outraged that the Gaming Control Board would have the right to ruin their town, and that the residents don’t have the right to try and stop them. The Gaming Control Board says that the citizens are acting inappropriately and that they have the right to “seek this action on behalf of all commonwealth citizens who have long awaited the benefits of legalized gaming, including property-tax relief.” However, what if those citizens don’t want the casinos in their towns? It seems that it doesn’t really matter.

What does seem to matter is the amount of money that the state is poised to make from these two casinos. Because their citizens have spoken, and they have said they don’t want the casinos where they board is putting them, yet the board is still trying to put them where they want. It is not an unreasonable request to not have a casino within 1,500 feet of a house, school or church – but the Gaming Board just doesn’t care.

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