Rendell Worries But Signs Table Games Bill Anyway
Gov. signs bill to allow table games at casinos
Thursday, Jan 7, 2010 | Updated 4:00 PM EST
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Gov. Ed Rendell signed the bill Thursday.
It’s official Pennsylvania -- blackjack, poker and more table games are coming to a casino near you.
On Thursday Gov. Ed Rendell put his signature on the new law legalizing table games at Pennsylvania's currently slots-only casinos.
Rendell quietly signed the bill because of some reservations, he said.
The governor signed the bill in private Thursday, saying he had mixed feelings about it. Afterwards Rendell addresses his worries about the bill at a news conference.
Rendell was concerned about special grants added to the bill but signed it because of the money it would generate. The new law is designed to generate millions in license fees to close a gap in the current year's budget, and produce revenues for state and local governments in future years.
Table games include poker, blackjack and roulette.
But, gamblers shouldn’t go running to their local gambling hall right away expecting to lay down some bets on the table. It'll be at least six months before table games are up and running, said regulators.
Despite his “misgivings,” Rendell hopes to have table games in Pa. casinos by July, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia
Posted Thursday, Jan 7, 2010 - 3:40 PM EST
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