Rejected Applicants for Slot Machines Appeal the Pennsylvania Gaming Board's Decision

On May 15, 2007, the losing applicants for the slot licenses in Pennsylvania took their complaint to the Supreme Court as the justices decide on a rather awkward situation.

The attorney for the 4 losing slots applicants spent 4 hours arguing their case before the court, complaining about the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's decision.

The result of the appeal will be important to how quickly the gambling industry produces the needed money for public schools in the state and property tax relief. The Justices already reviewed the side of the 2 losing slots license applicants.

The 2 losing slots applicants say that Don Barden, the winning bidder for the slots license, has no financial capability to pull off the plan aside from the Bethlehem.

The 2004 gaming law of the state which legalizes the slot machines states that all appeals regarding gaming decisions should be decided by the Supreme Court.

If the court sides with the losing applicants and requires the gaming board to reevaluate their decision, it could take a long time to open the casinos in the state.

On December 20, 2006, the Pennsylvania Gaming Board gave 5 slot licenses out of 13 applicants. Gaming Developer Neil G. Bluhm and the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Nation also won a license to build a casino on the Philadelphia riverfront.

Pennsylvania Businessman Louis A. DeNaples also won a license to build his casino in the Pocono Mountains. The losing slots license applicants were the Planet Hollywood Investors, Forest City Enterprises, Greg Matzel and the Isle of Capri Casinos Inc.

Thursday, 07 June 2007
Darren G. Strachan