Pennsylvania's first slots casino opens

Times-Leader/AP ^ | 11/14/2006 | MICHAEL RUBINKAM

[alarm rider]

Any word on the G'Burg deal to allow slots?

[2banana]

Ed Rendell - more gambling and higher taxes...

[cinives]

over the coming years as they begin to see their property taxes reduced dramatically

And if you believe that one ...

[SoftballMominVA]

Indian casinos will rip you off--even more than The Donald and his bunch.

[hsmomx3]

Yeah, he looks like a shady gambling man. I would not trust him with my grandmother or anyone else for that matter.

Smoke filled rooms, dark restaurant deals, cigars, women, fast cars...................

What is his wife like?

[rocksblues]

I am sure that Ed checked with Jon about this. LOL

[yobid]

Hundreds of gamblers - mostly senior citizens - poured into the casino as the doors were opened and occupied most of its nearly 1,100 seats in less than 10 minutes.

So seniors have enough disposable income to piss it away on slot machines yet we get to fund their "health care". Just great.

[nfldgirl]

BINGOT! That was PRECISELY my initial thought!

[nfldgirl]

Oops! Meant BINGO!

[BallyBill]

The State Lottery was put in place to fund Senior Health Care, so I guess the seniors now have money to give back at the casinos. Wait till I tell my mom, she'll be happy to know. Surprised Too! :)

[truthingod]

Oh great! Now people can throw more money away on useless entertainment instead of helping our economy and saving jobs? If people would stop supporting the gambling industry and spent that money on their kids education, or a new car(american) or bought some durable goods made in America- we would have the strongest economy and best future ever.

[WesternPacific]

I play a slot machine everyday and have NEVER lost money. Of course the slot machine belongs to me and I have the key to the money box. I bought it when I lived in Vegas. Best investment I ever made. It came from the Flamingo Hilton. Their lose my gain.

[layman]

The state plans to use gambling revenues to cut taxes for homeowners

Assuming the information given here is accurate, here's the math. If all twelve parlors do as well as they predict, which I doubt, annual property tax relief will average about 35 dollars per household. Yippeeeee!. Fat Eddie Rendell promised he would eliminate property taxes through gambling revenue when he ran for governor four years ago. Excuse me while I gag.

[RicocheT]

If PA residents believe gambling will help lower taxes, they are dreaming. Our Democrat WI governor expanded Indian casino gambling here and there hasn't been any tax reduction. Our state and local spending is growing and our taxes grow accordingly.

[Tribune7]

ping

[OhhTee5]

I've seen many stories about casino gambling, and it's unbelievably bad.

The people who go there for "entertainment" are few and far between.... most people who go there are the poor and desperate.

They actually think they have a chance and will pour what little money they have into these casinos and lose it all.

It's incredibly sad, since they have no idea how badly the deck is stacked against them.

It's my opinion that all casinos should be banned!

[4yearlurker]

Yeah right. Property tax reduced. Tell that to the folks in Atlantic City and South Jersey.

[VOA]

Vote out Santorum.
Bring in the slots.

Tells you what you need to know about the direction Pennsylvania is going.

[jpl]

Oh great! Now people can throw more money away on useless entertainment instead of helping our economy and saving jobs? If people would stop supporting the gambling industry and spent that money on their kids education, or a new car(american) or bought some durable goods made in America- we would have the strongest economy and best future ever.

Most of the people who go to these slots casinos (especially during the week) are retired grandmas whose kids are already grown up and in the workforce, and they're having a fun day out, courtesy of our Social Security taxes.