SEARCH NEWS:

 

Mississippi Casino Company Faces Uphill Battle in Pennsylvania

PENNSYLVANIA – As reported by the (Pennsylvania) Morning Call: "A Mississippi casino company that wants to build an $80 million thoroughbred horse track in Upper Macungie Township could find itself in an uphill race before it even gets out of the gate.

"Blindsided local officials who learned of the proposal from newspaper articles over the weekend say it faces many obstacles without even considering the odds that legislators will approve slot machines at racetracks.

"The 250-acre property under consideration would have to be rezoned, a proposed new interchange on Interstate 78 is years away at best, and public opinion could play a big role in determining the ultimate success of the proposal.

"…Les McMackin III, senior vice president of marketing and community relations for the Biloxi-based Isle of Capri Casinos Inc., said company leaders want to meet with the township by Friday or early next week.

"Though McMackin said in an interview Monday that Capri Casinos would move ahead with or without slots, he later corrected himself and said the project depends on legalized slot machines.

"…The idea of new licenses is to revive Pennsylvania's horse track business by using slot machines to increase the customer base. But slots are not a given.

"The House and Senate cannot agree on a bill to approve slots, though many legislators and Gov. Ed Rendell are looking to the additional tax revenue to shore up the state education budget…"

< Gaming News