Gambling in Pennsylvania racking up profits thanks to slots

Total gambling wagers at the slots parlors in Pennsylvania reached $3 billion in the past six months.

Gambling in Pennsylvania racking up profits thanks to slots The slot machine gambling has been allowed in the Keystone State for only six months now, and only four of the proposed 14 casinos are currently operational, but this did not prevent the opened parlors to rack up over $300 million in profits already. The four Penn. sites with slots are the so-called "racinos" - race tracks with slot machines. They are the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Harrah's Chester, Philadelphia Park and the Presque Isle Downs and a third harness track, The Meadows, will implement slots gambling within months.

The law requires that a part of the slots profits goes to racing industries, mainly to "overnight" purses; a big part will go straight back to the local communities via taxes, and indirectly by reducing the property tax in those communities.

Over 8,000 slot machine units are currently operational at the four race track casinos combined, with this number expected to grow to at least 35,000 over the next two years, as new slot parlors open up throughout the state. The amazing profits however, are expected to go down to a more "normal" number, as more casinos will spring not only in Pennsylvania, but possibly at the neighboring New Jersey and West Virginia.

05/13/2007