Pennsylvania Sen. Daniel Laughlin introduced a bill earlier this month that would lower the slots minimum for Category 1 and 2 casinos. The bill was approved by the Senate on Wednesday.
Laughlin introduced a similar bill in April which advanced to the Senate floor in May. However, his most recent legislation, SB 840, needs only one more step before it appears on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk.
Currently, Category 1 and 2 Pennsylvania casinos must have at least 1,500 slot machines on their properties. SB 840 proposes to lower the threshold to 1,000.
Heightened competition contributed to bill
Laughlin oversees the Erie County area, where Presque Isle Downs and Casino resides. The property has faced some hard times, with General Manager Gary Hendricks questioning the casino’s long-term sustainability, citing the proliferation of untaxed skill game machines across the state.
Presque Isle was fined $50,000 for going under the slot machines minimum earlier this year.
Laughlin thinks it’s time to loosen the rules.
“When Pennsylvania first legalized gaming, surrounding states like Ohio and New York didn’t have casinos. That’s no longer the case. Facilities like Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie are facing growing competition from out-of-state casinos and online gaming platforms. Reducing the slot machine requirement gives these businesses the flexibility to adapt while preserving jobs and tax revenue.”
“This bill is about modernization and sustainability. It’s a commonsense reform that protects jobs, strengthens our local economy and allows our gaming industry to remain competitive in a changing market.”
Under SB 840, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board can deny a request to decrease slot machines under the following conditions:
“An employee may not approve a requested decrease in the number of slot machines under this paragraph if the requested decrease exceeds 2% of the total number of slot machines in operation at a licensed facility.
“Except as provided under paragraph (20), at no time shall the number of slot machines in operation at a Category 1 or Category 2 licensed facility be less than 1,000 or less than 250 slot machines at a Category 3 licensed facility.”
