Governor signs bill allowing table games at Pa. casinos; play expected in about 6 months

Pa. Gov Signs Bill Allowing Table Games at Casinos


Governor signs bill allowing table games at Pa. casinos; play expected in about 6 months

By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press Writer http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9500657


HARRISBURG, Pa. January 7, 2010 (AP) The Associated Press




Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has signed a bill legalizing table games at the state's slots casinos.



The governor signed the bill in private Thursday, saying he had mixed feelings about it, then talked about it to reporters at a news conference.



The new law is designed to generate millions in license fees to close a gap in the current year's budget, and produce revenues for state and local governments in future years.



Table games include poker, blackjack and roulette.



Regulators say it'll be at least six months before table games are up and running.



THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.



HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's slots casinos hit the jackpot Wednesday when the Legislature gave them the authority to install table games such as poker and blackjack.



A 103-89 House vote sent the bill to Gov. Ed Rendell, whose staff said he would sign it, likely on Thursday.



Larger casinos will be allowed 250 tables for the new games, while the smaller resorts casinos can have 50. State gambling regulators said it may be more than six months before table games are up and running.



Along with poker and blackjack, games such as craps, baccarat and roulette are permitted under the new law.



Rendell and lawmakers turned to table games for revenue to help settle last year's protracted budget stalemate, but even after the 101-day impasse ended in October, the gambling details had remained unresolved.



The extra money will help pay the state's bills as the recession continues to ravage its tax collections.



"We should be proud of this legislation and the jobs and economic development and budget resolution that it provides," said state Rep. Dante Santoni, D-Berks, who shepherded the bill through the House.



The bill had much more support among Democrats than Republicans. In the House, which is fairly evenly divided along partisan lines, only 12 Republicans voted for it and just 10 Democrats voted no.