|
Senate Approves Tomlinson Slots Plan
HARRISBURG -- The
state Senate today gave bipartisan approval to legislation that will allow for
the placement of slot machines at each of Pennsylvania’s horse racetracks,
according to Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-6), the sponsor of the slots amendment.
“Pennsylvanians spend more than $4.7 billion
annually on gambling and gambling-related activities in other states,” Sen.
Tomlinson said. “I am very pleased that we will be able to capture some of
this lost revenue and put it to good use here in our communities.”
Sen. Tomlinson’s amendment to House Bill 2330
authorizes up to 14 slot licenses, including eight at the Commonwealth’s horse
racing tracks. The slot venues are expected to generate $1 billion in
state tax revenue annually, and license fees for slot operators will provide an
additional one-time revenue boost of more than $600 million.
Sen. Tomlinson said that the expected $1 billion in
annual revenue would be used primarily to fund property tax cuts for
Pennsylvania’s homeowners. Slots revenue would also provide $25 million
annually for the Volunteer Fire Grant Program and approximately $1.5 million to
fund a program to deal with compulsive gambling.
“The placement of slot machines at racetracks stands
to create approximately 18,000 new jobs and protect the 35,000 existing jobs in
the horse racing industry,” Sen. Tomlinson said. “This proposal supports
Pennsylvania’s top two industries -- agriculture and tourism -- by allowing our
horse racing industry to grow and attract the business we’ve been losing to our
neighbors in recent years.”
Under Sen. Tomlinson’s plan, a newly created Gaming
Control Board would regulate all aspects of slot machine gaming at racetracks,
including subpoena powers, the ability to suspend licenses, and the authority to
hire enforcement officers. All potential slot operators must submit to strict
background and financial fitness checks before they are awarded a license.
Background checks would also be required for all gaming employees.
“My colleagues and I have worked long and hard to
craft legislation that is fair to all parties and addresses the most important
concerns that have been raised,” said Sen. Tomlinson, who represents the
Philadelphia Park race track in Bensalem.
Pennsylvania’s horse racing industry produces $865
million in annual economic activity and operates capital facilities worth and
estimated $1.2 billion. The industry also helps to preserve more than
500,000 acres of open space. Sen. Tomlinson said that his plan would
provide approximately $1.3 billion in new personal income and an additional $2.5
billion in economic output.
House Bill 2330 was approved by a 30-20 margin.
The amended version of the bill now goes to the House of Representatives for
consideration.
# # #
|
