The law by which the state government created the commonwealth's casino gambling industry quite logically mandated the location of two casinos in Philadelphia, by far Pennsylvania's largest market.
Events since passage of the law in 2004, however, indicate that Philadelphia might neither want nor need its second license and that the gambling market around the
In a stunning decision in December, the state Gaming Control Board revoked a license that had been awarded for the Foxwoods Casino in Philadelphia, due to the licensee's failure to get the project off the ground.
Meanwhile, the take at the Sugar House Casino in Philadelphia has been less than expected. And there are operating casinos not far from the city in Bucks and Chester counties. A resort casino is planned for nearby Valley Forge, and struggling but casino-rich Atlantic City also is nearby.
Many state lawmakers have raised the prospect of amending the gambling law in order to put the second Philadelphia casino license up for grabs statewide.
The Legislature at least should conduct hearings to determine the viability of the second license in the Philadelphia market and to gauge interest in other parts of the state.
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