Harrisburg Happenings

By Senator Bob Mensch
24th Senatorial District

Governor Signs Table Games Bill

Table games will be coming to Pennsylvania's casinos following Governor Rendell's signature of the joint Senate-House Conference Committee report on Senate Bill 711 on Thursday, January 7.

"Gambling, as a source of revenue, is bad business for the Commonwealth," Senator Mensch said.  "But I believe that since it's here, and given the opportunity to use private funds for our Lehigh Valley communities made sense in so far as we will be able to eliminate the need for future taxes."

We had to balance a number of issues in this legislation. It had to provide essential reforms to the existing gaming law and it had to provide a specific plan for the implementation of table games in Pennsylvania's licensed casinos. This legislation provides funding for the state and local municipalities that hopefully will offset the need for tax increases."

Act 1 of 2010 creates a Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board review process for existing slot licensees who want to apply for a table game operation certificate.  Licensees will be required to demonstrate the number of jobs that will be created and the economic benefit to the Commonwealth, its political subdivisions and its residents.

Each eligible Category 1 (racetracks) and Category 2 (stand alone casino) licensee will pay a fee of $16.5 million for a table game certificate.  In addition, an annual table game tax of 16 percent would be imposed, which would be deposited into the General Fund.  Each table game operator would also be required to pay a local share of 2 percent of the gross table game revenue to their local community. Furthermore, Category 3 (resorts) would pay a fee of $7.5 million.

All casinos will pay a 16 percent tax, with 14 percentage points of that revenue for the state and two points going to local organizations or governments until June 2011. After June 2011, the rate will decrease to 14 percent - with 12 going to the state and another two to municipal and county government.

The Conference Committee report increases the application fee after June 1, 2010, to $24.75 million for the category one and two casinos and $11.25 million for resorts.

The Conference Committee report also contains a number of gaming reform measures:

2010 PA Farm Show Now Open

Billed as the largest indoor agricultural event in the country, the 2010 Pennsylvania Farm Show is now open through January 16 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center on North Cameron Street in Harrisburg. 

More than 400,000 people are expected to visit the 94th Farm Show. Visitors will have the chance to see nearly 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits, and 270 commercial exhibitors. Exhibitors can hope to tap into more than $561,000 in prize money. Look for the best in youth livestock shows, cooking demonstrations, educational displays, celebrity contests, and much more. 

Visitors will find the Farm Show Food Court located in the Expo Hall and Main Hall of the Complex filled with everything from apple cider and beehive products to grilled portabella mushrooms and deep-fried mozzarella sticks to pork barbeque sandwiches and homemade vegetable soup. 

Consult the daily schedule at www.farmshow.state.pa.us/page/2010show.aspx to ensure you don't miss your favorite events. If you are considering staying overnight in the Harrisburg area, consult the Farm Show website's Lodging, Restaurants, and Attractions page at www.farmshow.state.pa.us/page/food-lodging.aspx.

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