The state of Pennsylvania is doing it right. They have seen what casinos and gambling can do and they have been able to make it work and do so in a way that is respectful and responsible. About four years ago state lawmakers in Pennsylvania’s capital of Harrisburg voted to allow for commercial gambling in the state. It did not take long for a couple of casinos to pop up. Initially these casinos only offered slot and video style games. Pennsylvania began to notice revenue dollars coming in almost instantly. New businesses began to sprout, and the casinos were hiring part time and full time positions. The casinos were also pumping money into the economy as they had to buy gambling machines and maintain their upkeep. Not long after Pennsylvania allowed for commercial gambling the recession hit the United States. Many states started looking for new ways to increase tax revenue, create jobs, while not adding to the burden of their citizens. Of course, casinos and gambling are always popular topics when these times come. Pennsylvania noticed two things. One, many of the states gamblers were still heading out to nearby gambling areas like Atlantic City and the riverboat casinos of Ohio. Two, they badly needed to fill some gaps in their budget. It was time for some more gambling.
Maybe a year ago Pennsylvania allowed for more casino licenses. They also took a major step to being a big time player by allowing for some casinos to host table games. The lack of table games was what was shuttling Pennsylvanian gamblers to other states. Lawmakers were tired of watching hard earned Pennsylvanian dollars being shipped out. They also knew that an increase in the types of games permitted would increase the amount of revenue that could be collected, and that revenue was badly needed.
The gamble (if you will pardon the pun) looks to be paying off. Expanded gambling met some resistance, but for the most part Pennsylvanians are enjoying their home state casinos. Lines formed up around the block when Philadelphia opened its first ever casino, and there are plans for a second. When table games were opened gamblers flocked to their local Pennsylvanian casino. Most casinos are seeing a rise in revenue from the new games. Then there is the impact the expanded gambling has had on the local economy. The new casinos created construction jobs. Once the casinos are complete they create part time and full time permanent positions.
The American Gaming Association recently released its State of the States report. The report mentioned that Pennsylvania was able to collect just over to $1.3 billion in tax revenue from casinos and gambling. This is an 18.8 percent increase in revenue collected from the year before. It is also the second year in a row that Pennsylvania has sat atop the nation in tax revenue collected from gambling. Of course, Nevada and New Jersey are still the top gambling states, but Pennsylvania has made its mark that casinos and gambling play their part in fueling the state’s economy. Of course, no one claims that casinos are the silver bullet, but they do provide money and fun.
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