Category Archives: Casinos

An Explanation of Treasurer McCord’s Legal Argument Against Lottery Privatization

Treasurer Rob McCord is using a clever legal argument to combat Governor Tom Corbett’s midnight privatization raid of the Pennsylvania Lottery, and it is worth looking at in detail. After the 4:45 Friday announcement was made by the Corbett administration … More after the jump

Posted in Business, Casinos, Governor Corbett, Labor and Unions, State Government

Gambling Foe Charlie Dent’s Family Will Benefit from Sands Events Center

*Headline edited for clarity As recently as 2006, Charlie Dent was saying the Sands casino would only bring misery to Bethlehem, and a “negative redistribution of wealth”:

Posted in Casinos, Lehigh Valley, National Politics Tagged ,

Sands Casino in Bethlehem Continues Union Busting

The Sands Casino in Bethlehem is continuing its union-busting tactics to prevent any workers there to be represented or collectively bargain. They’ve been at this for a while, embedding covenants into leases/sales of nearby lands that prevent any union activity, … More after the jump

Posted in Casinos, Labor and Unions, Lehigh Valley Tagged ,

Amid Budget Crisis, Boscola Looks for Property Tax Reductions

Despite drastic budget cuts to schools, social services, and local governments, Senator Lisa Boscola is trying to divert revenue from gambling taxes to fund property tax refunds. The refunds were promised as part of the gaming legislation originally passed under … More after the jump

Posted in Budget/Taxes/Spending, Casinos, Senate Tagged

Table Games Are Helping Casinos Rake In Cash

No doubt about it – PA casinos are doing exactly what they were designed to do – take money from Atlantic City. The addition of table games added $81.5 million in government revenue for Pennsylvania and local municipalities in the … More after the jump

Posted in Budget/Taxes/Spending, Casinos

In New “Town Square,” Talk of Unions or Casinos is Banned

Bethlehem’s “Steel Stacks” campus has been heralded as a new town square for the Lehigh Valley. But looking closer, The Morning Call (yay!) has discovered clauses in the site’s deed that prevents activities that would reflect badly on the adjacent … More after the jump

Posted in Campaign Finance and the Influence Game, Casinos Tagged ,

Gaming Control Board Plagued By “Non-Criminal Misconduct”

A recent grand jury report suggests that the entire PA casino industry was fixed before the law was even passed, and accuses the Gaming Control Board of engaging in rampant “non-criminal misconduct” designed to aid potentially criminal activities. No criminal … More after the jump

Posted in Casinos, Corruption Tagged ,

Casino Regulators Accused of Coverup

A grand jury has accused the Gaming Control Board of covering up vital information about the owners and employees of casinos as it went about awarding licenses across the commonwealth.

Posted in Casinos Tagged

Ban on Casino Contributions Struck Down

The Legislature went too far in barring casino owners and executives from making any political campaign contributions, Pennsylvania’s highest court ruled Thursday in wiping out what had been touted as a major bulwark against the gambling industry’s influence. The Supreme … More after the jump

Posted in Casinos, State Government

GOP Criticizes Rendell’s Tuition Relief Proposal

Gov. Ed Rendell’s administration received a cool reception from Republicans yesterday when he took the first step toward legalizing video poker in bars as a way to raise up to $550 million for college students in the state. “We have … More after the jump

Posted in Casinos, State Government