State of Pennsylvania Approves Slots Gambling
Tired of seeing border states like New Jersey and Delaware take millions of dollars from the state every year, Pennsylvania has approved 14 licenses for slot parlors in the state. This allows Pennsylvania to open gambling halls, and puts it in direct competition with the casino establishments in Atlantic City.
In the spring of 2004, Pennsylvania approved slots gambling throughout with the intent of using the proceeds to fund public education throughout the commonwealth. Five of those parlors would be located inside the city limits of Philadelphia, with an additional three more locations planned for southeastern Pennsylvania.
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Harrahs plans on opening a slots parlor and race track just south of the city limits, while Philadelphia Park is planning an expansion project to its racing facility to accommodate slots gambling. The third facility would be based in the western suburbs of Limerick, PA.
All these facilities add up to more competition for the casinos in Atlantic City – they sit just an hour east from downtown Philadelphia. And southeastern Pennsylvania accounts for 15 percent of the visitors to Atlantic City. While some would see it as a reason for concern, the Atlantic City gaming industry sees it as an opportunity.
“It should be good for us,” said Jeff Vasser, the Director of the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s just slots, so if somebody wants to pull a lever on a slot machine they don’t have to go far from home. We offer a compelling reason to come to Atlantic City. Pennsylvania slots are introducing gaming to new players – they can come to where the big boys play.”
This isn’t the first time Atlantic City has seen a challenge to its casino market share on the east coast. Almost 10 years ago, Delaware opened its doors to slots play, allowing slots gambling at Delaware Park Race Track and supporting the development of Dover Downs, a slots parlor in the state capitol. Indian casinos in Connecticut have also come along to challenge Atlantic City’s gambling dominance.
The new competition just forced the city to continue to evolve and reinvent itself.
“We thought it was inevitable so I’m not surprised,” Vasser added. “The way it’s going, there is going to be gambling everywhere. We’re pleased with the way it turned out”. With more and more states facing budget shortfalls, the lure of job creation and tax revenues has encouraged state legislatures all over the country to consider the benefits of gambling in their home states. In Pennsylvania, legislatures were tired of seeing millions in entertainment and gaming dollars leave the state every year, heading to the Jersey shore or Delaware. All totaled, the 14 parlors are expected to create over $1.2 billion in state tax revenue.
At one time, senior citizens pulling one arm bandits were the backbone of much of the casino business in Atlantic City. Everyone now agrees those days are gone. “That’s yesterday’s perception of Atlantic City,” Vasser said. “The bus market has been dropping over 10 percent each year and has become a smaller and smaller part of the market.” Vasser credits three things with sparking the current revitalization in the city. First was the state introducing financial incentives for non-gaming related products and services. Second, the recognition within Atlantic City that new gaming competition was coming to the region, and the need for them to evolve to survive.
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And third, the opening of the Borgata Hotel & Casino in 2003. The Borgata brought Las Vegas caliber entertainment, nightlife, and dining to New Jersey. It introduced Atlantic City to an entirely different crowd of people – the 20-30 something with disposable income. The opening lit a match, bringing the French Quarter at the Tropicana and the recent opening of the House of Blues. The city is beginning to model Las Vegas for its non-gaming entertainment.
“We’re a destination, not just slot parlors,” Vasser added. “We saw a small blip (after Delaware opened slots) then we came right back and never looked back.”
One of the benefits of the new Philadelphia slots scene will be an opportunity for cross-promotion. Both Trump and Harrah’s will have ownership interests in a Philadelphia area gambling parlor. That will bring cross-marketing opportunities and a chance to introduce Atlantic City to a whole new customer base.
In the spring of 2004, Pennsylvania approved slots gambling throughout with the intent of using the proceeds to fund public education throughout the commonwealth. Five of those parlors would be located inside the city limits of Philadelphia, with an additional three more locations planned for southeastern Pennsylvania.
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Harrahs plans on opening a slots parlor and race track just south of the city limits, while Philadelphia Park is planning an expansion project to its racing facility to accommodate slots gambling. The third facility would be based in the western suburbs of Limerick, PA.
All these facilities add up to more competition for the casinos in Atlantic City – they sit just an hour east from downtown Philadelphia. And southeastern Pennsylvania accounts for 15 percent of the visitors to Atlantic City. While some would see it as a reason for concern, the Atlantic City gaming industry sees it as an opportunity.
“It should be good for us,” said Jeff Vasser, the Director of the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s just slots, so if somebody wants to pull a lever on a slot machine they don’t have to go far from home. We offer a compelling reason to come to Atlantic City. Pennsylvania slots are introducing gaming to new players – they can come to where the big boys play.”
This isn’t the first time Atlantic City has seen a challenge to its casino market share on the east coast. Almost 10 years ago, Delaware opened its doors to slots play, allowing slots gambling at Delaware Park Race Track and supporting the development of Dover Downs, a slots parlor in the state capitol. Indian casinos in Connecticut have also come along to challenge Atlantic City’s gambling dominance.
The new competition just forced the city to continue to evolve and reinvent itself.
“We thought it was inevitable so I’m not surprised,” Vasser added. “The way it’s going, there is going to be gambling everywhere. We’re pleased with the way it turned out”. With more and more states facing budget shortfalls, the lure of job creation and tax revenues has encouraged state legislatures all over the country to consider the benefits of gambling in their home states. In Pennsylvania, legislatures were tired of seeing millions in entertainment and gaming dollars leave the state every year, heading to the Jersey shore or Delaware. All totaled, the 14 parlors are expected to create over $1.2 billion in state tax revenue.
At one time, senior citizens pulling one arm bandits were the backbone of much of the casino business in Atlantic City. Everyone now agrees those days are gone. “That’s yesterday’s perception of Atlantic City,” Vasser said. “The bus market has been dropping over 10 percent each year and has become a smaller and smaller part of the market.” Vasser credits three things with sparking the current revitalization in the city. First was the state introducing financial incentives for non-gaming related products and services. Second, the recognition within Atlantic City that new gaming competition was coming to the region, and the need for them to evolve to survive.
Play the online casino games at Casinoroom.com. We are offering both real money and free casino games, and it's easy, safe and secure with prompt payouts!
And third, the opening of the Borgata Hotel & Casino in 2003. The Borgata brought Las Vegas caliber entertainment, nightlife, and dining to New Jersey. It introduced Atlantic City to an entirely different crowd of people – the 20-30 something with disposable income. The opening lit a match, bringing the French Quarter at the Tropicana and the recent opening of the House of Blues. The city is beginning to model Las Vegas for its non-gaming entertainment.
“We’re a destination, not just slot parlors,” Vasser added. “We saw a small blip (after Delaware opened slots) then we came right back and never looked back.”
One of the benefits of the new Philadelphia slots scene will be an opportunity for cross-promotion. Both Trump and Harrah’s will have ownership interests in a Philadelphia area gambling parlor. That will bring cross-marketing opportunities and a chance to introduce Atlantic City to a whole new customer base.
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