The City of Brotherly Love...And Gambling

Philadelphia is set to become the largest city in the nation with casinos, but boosters worry that the gaming venues won't fit with the city's recent revitalization.

1 minute read

August 10, 2006, 5:00 AM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"In July 2004, the Pennsylvania State Legislature passed a law allowing the creation of fourteen gaming establishments, two of which must be freestanding 5,000-slot parlors in Philadelphia. The casinos could draw as many as 40,000 people a day and would make Philadelphia the largest city in the nation with legalized gambling."

To cope with concerns regarding the impact of gambling establishments, the city has adopted a set of design guidelines which were formulated by the Design Advocacy Group of Philadelphia (DAG).

"Currently, five applicants, including Donald Trump, have proposed gaming facilities in Philadelphia. Four of the proposed casinos are on the waterfront, which is fast being developed without benefit of an overall plan. Meanwhile, efforts continue in the Pennsylvania legislature to rescind municipal zoning and other local oversight of gambling developments. The state expects to issue the first gaming licenses by the end of this year."

Wednesday, August 9, 2006 in The Next American City

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