Are you ready for an East Coast city with Las Vegas style? William DeWeese, Pennsylvania State representative, believes that Pennsylvania may take off as the East Coast equivalent to Vegas. With the problems that Atlantic City casinos have been faced with, which are now struggling due to the economy and other factors (like competition from neighboring states), DeWeese feels there is not a better time than the present to allow full-scale gambling in the style of Las Vegas in Pennsylvania, but he has felt this way for some time now.

DeWeese brought his proposal for table game gambling last year, he was defeated. Back again this year, DeWeese will attempt to persuade Pennsylvania lawmakers that table games could make the difference between gaining (or losing) their competitor’s customers over in Atlantic City.
DeWeese says, “I really feel like I have more wind behind my back this time. Revenues are down, taxes are not bringing in that much. The physical challenges for the Keystone State are so achingly difficult that any new possible revenue has to be considered.”

Gov. of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, is not against table games, but has made it clear what he is for. He wants all 14 up-and-coming slot parlors to be up and running prior to table gaming being facilitated. This goal, however, may still be quite a bit far off.

Chuck Ardo, Rendell’s spokesman, says, “The governor will consider all the options available to him to close the budget gap, but again, he believes it is too soon to consider the expansion of gaming to table games.”

DeWeese feels that the state should act fast, though, as neighboring states are building casinos at a faster rate and will beat Pennsylvania to the punch, leaving Pennsylvania behind the times.