Pennsylvania state senate Republicans are raising the stakes in their standoff with Rendell administration officials who are refusing to testify about the possible closing of casinos if the budget stalemate drags on (see previous stories). Republican state senator Jane Earll chairs a committee that has issued subpoenas to two Rendell administration officials to testify about the possible casino closures. Despite the subpoenas, those officials were no-shows at a Friday morning hearing. Earll says the committee will now explore its legal options. She declined to say what those options are, but a lawyer for Senate Republicans has said the arrest of […]

In the immortal words of Nelson Muntz: Ha-ha!

ATLANTIC CITY – Unhappy with the bids it received, Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. announced today it is no longer for sale. The company headed by celebrity dealmaker Donald Trump, issued a statement today saying its board of directors concluded that “none of the indications of interest received to date for the acquisition of the company represented or was likely to lead to a transaction that was in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.” Trump had been seeking $2.2 billion, including the assumption of $1.5 billion in debt, for the company’s three Atlantic City casinos. Shares of Trump […]

BY SUZETTE PARMLEY INQUIRER STAFF WRITER ATLANTIC CITY — As his image flashed on video screens in his casino’s nightclub recently, Donald J. Trump surveyed the mostly young crowd. Many were too young to remember his history of financial difficulties here, or to care. They came to celebrate with The Donald on his 61st birthday at his flagship casino, the Trump Taj Mahal, and he relished the attention.With his gambling halls still struggling and his casino company reviewing bids from possible buyers, this could be the end of the show for Trump in Atlantic City. People familiar with negotiations to […]

Neighbors of the proposed Foxwoods Casino had no legal standing to challenge the state’s decision to build a slots-parlor near their homes, the state Supreme Court ruled yesterday. In a ruling that augurs ill for similar challenges by City Council, anti-casino activists and neighborhood groups, the Supreme Court yesterday dismissed an appeal from four civic associations opposed to the licensing of Foxwoods Casino on Christopher Columbus Boulevard in South Philadelphia. The Philadelphia casinos still face other legal and political obstacles, including four remaining appeals before the Supreme Court, and a casino-restrictive ordinance to be considered by Council next week. INQUIRER: No […]

SLOTS CRIME STATS In the first four months of 2007, Pennsylvania State Police troopers assigned to gaming-enforcement offices at the Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack in Bensalem and the Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack in Chester reported these crimes: Philadelphia Park: 29 thefts 17 forgeries or counterfeit bills 5 assaults 1 illegal firearm 11 drug investigations 1 public intoxication 2 harassments Harrah’s Chester: 34 thefts 1 robbery/purse-snatching 8 forgeries or counterfeit bills 6 harassments 1 domestic disturbance 1 indecent assault 1 criminal mischief/vandalism 1 fugitive from justice 2 outstanding warrants served DAILY NEWS: Casino Royale With Cheese Sleaze

The election is over, and suddenly so is Philadelphia City Council’s unified opposition to casino construction. A package of bills introduced yesterday by lame-duck Councilman Juan Ramos would, if passed, give the city’s blessing to the proposed SugarHouse casino in Fishtown. The bills, which were introduced by Ramos at Mayor Street’s request, are a sharp departure from Council’s pre-election casino moves. Until yesterday, Council members had unanimously sided with anti-casino forces in vote after vote. They had even voted 17-0 to put the ill-fated casino referendum on the May 15 primary ballot — before courts removed it. INQUIRER: Thanks God […]

“I am not a fan of gaming as an economic development tool. It certainly will create jobs … but I believe there are alternatives.” The candidate said he is against the sites selected for the two Philadelphia casinos. His role will be to insure the city is moving in the way to be certain it can impose the greatest restriction possible over the possible negatives from the casinos — traffic congestion, curb cuts, air quality, gambling addiction, and increases in crime to name a few. “Residents need to be protected. We have to be sure the process does not negatively […]

This message was sent by your Salsa for Democracy organizer, Anne Dicker. The campaign is down to the wire, and the two most outspoken candidates working against casinos need help getting out the vote: Matt Ruben and Caryn Hunt. Matt is endorsed by Democracy for America and Philly for Change. Caryn is endorsed by Philly NOW. They need help around the city on Tuesday May 15th. Can I ask for your help? Shifts are available all day, but the greatest need is in the morning, and after work. Please give me a call at 267-262-3160. Thanks! Anne BALLOT FOR CHANGE: […]

BY RONNIE POLANECZKY FISHTOWN ACTION isn’t waiting until May 15 to say whether a casino would be a good thing for the community. The newly minted pro-casino group wants to go on record, right here at Holy Name of Jesus Parish Hall, as being thrilled that SugarHouse Casino wants to build in the neighborhood. In fact, they say, the sooner SugarHouse can bring its 1,100 new jobs to the city, the better. These are jobs offering good salaries, benefits and pensions — and, in many cases, don’t require a college degree. Something not every Fishtowner has, or even wants to […]

The gambling hall is having a giant liquidation sale on Thursday, and many items once touched by New Jersey’s own Frank Sinatra are up for sale. There will be hidden treasures aplenty, according to organizers, including everything from the Plaza Club, a swank 19th-floor hideout that became Sinatra’s private playground whenever he stayed at the Sands. Chandeliers (priced at $4,250), a marble-and-wood bar, and leather chairs are among the furnishings from the club that are expected to go quickly. All told, about $1.5 million worth of merchandise is being sold off, from one-dollar towels and linens to the giant red […]

Foxwoods paid $65 million to acquire the property at Reed and Columbus Blvd. in January, 2005, but hasn’t paid any taxes on the property since the [Philadelphia Board of Revision of Taxes] raised its market value for the property to $45 million in August 2005. According to the Philadelphia Revenue Dept., Foxwoods Philadelphia Casino now owes the City $2.8 million in back taxes for 2006 and 2007, making it the third largest corporate tax deadbeat after Amtrak and Septa according to the Top 100 list maintained by Hallwatch. An appraisal submitted by Foxwoods as part of its appeal suggests that […]

BY JEFF SHIELDS INQUIRER STAFF WRITER The Pennsylvania Supreme Court yesterday issued a preliminary injunction forbidding Philadelphia from placing an anti-casino referendum question on the May 15 ballot. In a strong, but not fatal, blow to the activists and neighbors opposed to slots casinos planned for Fishtown and South Philadelphia, the court granted the Gaming Control Board’s request to halt a vote on the proposal to bar casinos from most city neighborhoods. In a 15-line order that contained no explanation or rationale, the court also said it wanted lawyers for both sides to file legal briefs in an expedited fashion […]