Sugarhouse Planning Temporary Poker Room For September Opening
By Tony Romeo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The manager of the Sugarhouse Casino, in Fishtown, says a temporary facility for live poker games is expected to be opened by mid-September, now that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has given the green light to the project.
Sugarhouse general manager Wendy Hamilton says the demand for poker has been there since day one.
"The very first day that we opened Sugarhouse Casino in September of 2010, I heard from no less than 72 people on their way in the front door, 'Which way to the poker room? Which way to the poker room?' "
But there was no live poker room.
Now, if Sugarhouse gets the final approvals it needs from the city, the plan is to erect a 7,300-square-foot temporary facility (at right in drawing) that will house 24 poker tables and its own food service, and will operate for about 13 months while construction proceeds on the casino's expansion.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the gaming board had no comment on the status of a second casino license for Philadelphia, except to say deliberations on that are continuing.