Gaming Board Official Asks About the Viability of Slots Profits

On February 20th, 2008, House legislators interview the state's top gambling regulator about the honesty of the slots-financed property tax cuts and the decision to grant a casino license to an up and coming businessman who is now currently facing perjury charges before the state police.

Gambling Control Board head Mary DiGiacomo Colins commented that the slot machine profits should give the state $854 million this year, which is equivalent to average property cuts of $182 per resident. Colins leads a group of gambling board members and staff who attended a House Appropriations Committee at the board's yearly budget meeting.

They have faced stringent questions from Republican legislators who sounded doubtful about the continuing health of the slot machines. Colins commented that more casino facilities will open in the coming years to allocate more cash into tax cuts.

After Dauphin County's Hollywood Casino at the Penn National debuted last week, the state has now opened seven casino facilities for business and is allowed to open fourteen casinos under the 2004 slots law. When prompt about the possibility of the state of Maryland allowing slot machines, Colins commented that no casinos in the state of Pennsylvania are closed enough to be affected. Colins commented that the slot machines in Maryland would have a huge impact in Gettysburg area but the regulators have dismissed a plan for a casino in the town in 2006.

Colins face her hardest questions about the situation of Louis DeNaples, who was charged with lying about some facts in his past to win the casino for Mount Airy in Monroe County. Colins defended their decision to give DeNaples the slots casino license, which has been revoked until a decision is reached by the court.

Colins commented that the state police did not give them adequate information regarding their probe in DeNaples' past and she is hoping that this could change in the near future.

Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Kori Woffendin