Staff Blog
AUDIO: Rendell suggests casino credit will die, concedes it’s not a “core issue”
Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
posted by Isaiah Thompson
Governor Ed Rendell says he expects a clause in the pending table game legislation — one that would allow PA casinos to extend credit to their customers, whether they're playing table games or just slots — to die before reaching his desk.
In a phone conference today, Rendell referred to that clause and others as "ancillary," and said, "I think a lot of that stuff is going to go out of the bills before it gets to me."
Pressed on the issue of casino credit specifically, Rendell said, "I don't think that will survive the final bill — but if it did, I would have to sign it. That's not a core issue for me."
Listen to the exchange here:
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The General Assembly is supposed to reconvene on Monday, Nov. 9 to settle the issue. Meanwhile, we noticed that today's Inquirer editorialized against the credit clause:
Even when Pennsylvania's flawed gaming bill was passed in the dark of night in 2004, the legislature had enough sense to prohibit the extension of in-store credit. Why back off now? The gaming industry says it needs to be able to provide credit to the high rollers expected once the slots parlors morph. But the credit access will also be there for problem gamblers and those who can least afford it. That's especially troubling in Philadelphia, where about a quarter of the population lives in poverty and many are on the edge.
[...] AUDIO: Rendell suggests casino credit will die, concedes it’s not a ‘core issue’…… [...]
Interesting.
And in today’s Post-Gazette, Dan Onorato (county executive for Allegheny County/Pittsburgh) proposed using the revenue from table games to pay for Pittsburgh libraries (since we are being forced to close so many, due to declining county revenues). Dan Onorato is running for Governor of Pennsylvania. They think casinos will fix everything.
Interesting.
And in today’s Post-Gazette, Dan Onorato (county executive for Allegheny County/Pittsburgh) proposed using the revenue from table games to pay for Pittsburgh libraries (since we are being forced to close so many, due to declining county revenues). Dan Onorato is running for Governor of Pennsylvania. They think casinos will fix everything.
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
Casino can easily fix everything. I am sure because gaming industry is growing continuously.