Not all of the slot parlors that have been approved in Pennsylvania have even opened, but a lawmaker is already calling for his colleagues to start talking about allowing casino games, including poker, there.
Pennsylvania Democratic House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese told colleagues at a special committee meeting concerning his proposed table game bill that although a table game initiative probably wouldn't pass at the moment, it's not too early for them to be thinking and talking about one.
Last November, Pennsylvania became one of the many states in the union to allow establishments to have slot machines where 34 percent of revenue goes to the state; 14 such establishments are currently authorized.
This summer, voters in neighboring West Virginia - which has several slots parlors and race tracks that have slots that sit in counties on the borders of Pennsylvania and Ohio, states that also voted to allow table games, including poker - approved table games in two of the four counties that that host gambling establishments.
The casino owners there started the legislative ball rolling as soon as Pennsylvania decided to allow slot machines several years ago. The casino industry claimed that in order to stay competitive with Pennsylvania, table games were imperative.
Click
here to read about the West Virginia vote.
Comments
Computized
over 4 years ago
I hope this would mean that someone in Government has at last, come to his or her senses and realized that this will not be stopped. It amazes me that they will do squat about real problems and then spend all their time fighting over something that we should have the option about. I hope someone gets this one message to him or her.
"Put away your stupid hat and start using your brain, regulate, tax and benefit, for the masses."
Then we would be able to league it like bowling, and have licensed establishments for respectable and legal poker action.
This would make a plateau of players to compete in a tiered event of unbelievable numbers. My vision is a World Poker Tournament of over 50,000 players. Now wouldn't that be something special.