Pa. Gaming Control Chair Says Approval of 2nd Philadelphia Casino Was The Right Thing
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- Appearing today at state House budget hearings, the chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board defended the board's decision to award a license for a second casino in Philadelphia.
Under questioning from House members, board chairman William Ryan said court challenges to the board's decision to award a second Philadelphia casino license center on concerns related to the concentration of casinos in the region and potential saturation of the gambling market.
As for saturation, Ryan says, "We did not feel that the proponents of that issue proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the market is saturated. There is no question that the market is competitive, but there is a difference between a competitive market and saturated market."
Ryan declined to speculate on whether court challenges would be resolved in time for the state to receive revenues for the new casino license in the coming fiscal year, saying only that it is "possible."