Transparency of casino gambling falls short in Pa.

Published: November 20, 2009

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State lawmakers and regulators consistently have fallen short of their long-ago promise to make casino gambling in Pennsylvania completely transparent.

State regulation has been marked by internecine warfare between state agencies, after-the-fact revelations about license awards, a revolving door for regulatory personnel moving into the industry, and so on.

Just this week Pittsburgh newspapers reported that a statewide investigative grand jury is looking at as-yet undisclosed casino licensing issues.

And a group purporting to represent several large casinos threatened to sue the state government if the Gaming Control Board issued new slots licenses to expand the number of machines at small casinos.

The group, the Pennsylvania Casino Association, ran a series of radio ads, issued public statements and sent letters to state officials regarding its position on impending legislation, yet is not registered as a lobbying organization. It initially claimed to represent four casinos and then shortened the list to three. One of those three, Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County, later notified state regulators and lawmakers that it would not participate in any litigation launched by the association.

The association's activities drew particular attention because former Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Stephen A. Zappala has been a board officer and executive director of the group.

Rep. Dante Santoni Jr., chairman of the state House Gaming Oversight Committee, said this week that he wants to know why the association is not registered as a lobbyist while engaging in lobby-like activities.

Mr. Santoni should conduct hearings to examine that issue. If the state government ever is to achieve the transparency about gambling that it has promised, that transparency must include casino-related lobbying.

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1 posted comments

I'm conflicted when it comes to gambling. On one hand, who am I to tell you what to do with your money? On the other hand, I'm watching the spread of gambling and I see it as disproportionately affecting affecting our poorer citizens.

I also see - as is frequently mentioned - that it seems that gambling is seen as a 'quick fix' to our revenue problems.

I know Pennsylvania is losing revenue to people going up to Nichols, but I wish the solution wasn't to spread more gambling on this side of the border.

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BC Native,  11/20/09 9:11