Vol. 4, No. 1, January 2007
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Pennsylvania Progress
Rendell OKs free drinks, opposes table games
There were several developments last month in the nascent Pennsylvania gaming industry, not the least of which was an indication by Governor Ed Rendell that he will sign a bill authorizing the state’s new slot venues to serve free drinks to gamblers.
The Gaming Control Board was scheduled to issue the slot parlor licenses for locations around the state, including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, on December 20. Read Casino Connection in February for the winners.
Rendell ignored calls from several lawmakers to veto the bill, saying he will sign the legislation cleared by both houses of the legislature to permit casinos to offer unlimited free drinks to customers playing slot machines between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m. daily. He did say he will direct the state Gaming Control Board to issue regulations controlling how those drinks are delivered, including possible limits to the number of drinks served per hour, and a prohibition on serving drinks to players who are visibly intoxicated.
“Virtually every gaming operation around the world has this amenity,” Rendell commented at a news conference, adding that serving drinks to visibly intoxicated customers would jeopardize a casino’s liquor license under the laws currently on the books.
While supporting the free drink bill, Rendell declined to support a measure introduced by Democratic House leader H. William DeWeese to expand the games allowable in Pennsylvania casinos to include poker and some table games.
Rendell said it is “way, way premature” to consider table games—a position he has maintained consistently over the past two years. Rendell has maintained that he will wait until the slot industry has been in operation at least a year before even considering any expanded games.
