For Immediate Release
3/31/08

Contact:

Colleen Greer (Piccola’s Office), (717) 787-6801
Todd Abele (Reichley’s Office), (717) 787-1000

- Sen. Piccola
- Sen. Folmer
- Sen. Corman
- Sen. Pippy

Senate and House Lawmakers Unveil Gaming Package Calling for Accountability and Integrity

HARRISBURG – Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin/York) and Rep. Doug Reichley (R-Berks/Lehigh) and their colleagues in the Senate and House of Representatives unveiled today a joint legislative package that establishes a number of necessary fixes to Pennsylvania’s Gaming Law and implements recommendations made by the Fourth Dauphin County Grand Jury.

 The lawmakers called on the General Assembly to close the loopholes that continue to exist in the law in an effort to keep organized crime out of gaming and make both structural and procedural reforms to Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board.  A major component of the legislative package involves creating a Division of Gaming Enforcement under the Attorney General, where it would have the complete authority of a law enforcement agency in carrying out investigations.

Other key components of the legislation include decreasing the number of board members from seven to five and limiting their outside employment.  The legislation would also amend the casino ownership licensing process and procedures that the board follows by requiring public hearings on the qualifications of applicants and tightening the license and permit disqualification criteria.

Under the new bill, felons would be prohibited from holding a gaming license.  People proven to be associated with organized crime and career criminals would also be prohibited from holding a license.

“Such inadequacies in our gaming law prevented a thorough background check before a license was awarded to a Mount Airy casino owner who was later charged with lying about his connections to organized crime figures,” said Piccola.  “If we do not correct this statute, we are hanging out a sign telling organized crime: Welcome, open for business, Pennsylvania.”

“The disclosures of the past few months have robbed our citizens of the perception that the licensing process was conducted with honesty and integrity,” Reichley said.  “Let me underscore that this is a sound beginning on what should be a bi-partisan effort to amend the current law. There will certainly be some aspects of this legislation with which some members in the House or Senate disagree, but we need to begin the process of improving the current law immediately.”

As Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) said, “Gambling is often associated with crime. The relationship is easy to understand. When gambling restrictions are relaxed, criminals and their associates can figure out a way to own and operate casinos.  The sheer volume of money that is generated by gaming makes it a tempting target for unsavory characters.”

Both Reichley and Piccola emphasized that the structure and processes of the gaming board must be redesigned to end political influence and provide for public scrutiny.  The absence of a legitimate law enforcement agency in the investigation, licensure, and regulation of gaming must also come to an end.

“As long as this risky business is part of Pennsylvania, it must be better regulated.  We need to have a structure in place that is accountable for its actions and protected from criminal activity,” Piccola said.  “These long-sought reforms are needed to ensure that we have proper oversight of the Gaming Control Board and common-sense safeguards in place.  They are important and necessary reforms that even gaming proponents can support.”

"I commend Senator Piccola for reaching out to the House to work with the Senate to correct the current flaws in Pennsylvania's gaming law. It is essential we remove the provisions of our gaming law that have proven to be unworkable, and strengthen the law to restore the public's trust,” Reichley said.  “The time has come for the stonewalling and concealment by the Gaming Board to stop. This is not a partisan issue, but is a matter of concern to people from every corner of Pennsylvania.”
 

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