State’s
Casino Law tells Municipalities: Choose Now or Never
Townships,
Boroughs and Cities in PA have ONLY until Dec 31, 2017 to have a CHOICE on a
casino in their municipality. The
law calls for 10 satellite “Category 4” casinos (750 slots and 50 table games)
to be awarded to the highest bidder. The auctions are for areas that are at
least 25 miles from any of the 12 existing PA licensed casinos.
The
new expansion of gambling law allows municipalities to OPT OUT of having a
casino in their municipality by adopting a RESOLUTION before Dec 31, 2017.
Officials can say “NO” in a resolution now. If they do not, they will NOT BE
ABLE TO SAY NO LATER. However, they CAN say “YES” later if they decide they do
want a casino in their municipality.
As
the County Commissioners Association of PA explained:
“A
municipality could later rescind that prohibition by sending a separate
resolution to the Gaming Control Board, but could not later choose again to
prohibit mini-casinos.”
Officials
can make the Resolution to the Pa. Gaming Control Board. As the PGCB describes here, http://gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/?pr=736
“In
order to facilitate this process, if a municipality desires to avail itself of
the municipal option regarding Category 4 casinos, the Pennsylvania Gaming
Control Board provides the following guidance:
•
First, the governing body of the municipality should officially adopt the
Resolution at a public meeting consistent with the requirements of
Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §701 et seq., after October 31, 2017.
•
Then, an official copy of the Resolution should be delivered no later than
December 31, 2017 to:
Pamela
Lewis, Board Secretary, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
303
Walnut Street, Commonwealth Tower, 5th Floor
Harrisburg,
PA 17101
The
Board also recommends that each municipal governing body consult their
solicitor in the development of the resolution which, at minimum, should
include the following information:
•
Reference to the power granted under Section 1305.1 and the municipality’s
decision to exercise the power to opt-out;
•
The date that the governing body adopted the resolution; and
•
The inclusion of signatures or seal necessary to establish that the
resolution was officially adopted.”
If
you live in Adams County, this action by your borough or township may be the
ONLY remaining opportunity for leaders to prevent a Gettysburg area casino.
Wherever
you live in PA, you can keep a casino out of your neighborhood by contacting
your Township Supervisors, Borough or City Council Members and ask them to
retain their power of choice by entering a resolution against casinos at the
next public meeting. Because it is only a resolution, it can be introduced and
approved in the same meeting.
NoCasinoGettysburg
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