AFA of PA ACTION ALERT
November 17, 2017
Issue
Act Quickly to Keep Gambling Out of Your Backyard!
Details
As you recall the state legislature vastly expanded gambling as a mean to “fix” our budgetary problems. Making Pennsylvania the Nevada of the east will NOT fix our budgetary problems, only the reduction in spending will, but it’s apparent the majority of legislators in Harrisburg do not understand this “quaint” idea!
There are a couple opportunities for local municipalities — in state law defined as a city, borough, incorporated town or township — to opt out of some portions of the new law. The PA Gaming Control Board has issued public notices to all municipalities outlining the opt-out potentials and the looming deadlines, but they need to hear from constituents so they understand just how important stopping gambling expansion in your backyard is!
Here are the opt outs:
1.) a local municipality can pass a resolution prohibiting the siting of one of the ten new mini-casinos (Note: these can house between 300 and 750 slot machines and up to 40 table games ) An official copy of the opt-out resolution must be delivered no later than December 31, 2017.
The PA Gaming Control Board 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.
2.) The “host county option” permits the county in which a Category 1, Category 2 or Category 3 Slot Machine Licensee is located to pass a resolution expressing their desire to opt out of the placement of up to five video gaming terminals (VGTs) at truck stops within the host county. Go here for more details, as well as the definition of a truck stop. Note the resolution must reference the power granted under Section 4506 and the county’s decision to exercise the power to opt-out. The deadline for this resolution to be delivered is December 29, 2017.
These resolution(s) must be sent here:
Pamela Lewis, Board Secretary
Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
303 Walnut Street
Commonwealth Tower, 5th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
pamelewis@pa.gov
Action Steps
1.) Ask your local municipality to pass a resolution to prohibit the siting of a mini-casino. Click here if you don’t know what municipality your live in. Click here to find the contact information for your municipality.
2.) If you live in a county in which a Category a 1, Category 2 or Category 3 Slot Machine Licensee is located, contact your county council or county commissioners and ask them to pass a resolution to opt out of the placement of video gaming terminals (VGTs) at truck stops within the county.
Time is short, act ASAP in contacting local elected officials asking them to pass these resolutions and get them sent to Harrisburg before the end of the year!
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