Big roll of dice
West Virginia is not sitting back and allowing Pennsylvania to siphon away its gambling revenue. The Associated Press reports that Gov. Joe Manchin last week signed legislation that will allow race tracks in four counties that have slot machines to seek voter approval to expand gambling operations to include craps, roulette, blackjack and the like.
The Ohio County Commission has scheduled a June 9 special election to permit gambling at Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center, and Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Center will ask the Hancock County Commission to schedule an election for early June.
How this would impact slots operations in Pennsylvania remains to be seen. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania officials aren’t waiting to find out. They’re spending slots revenue as if it were a sure bet.
Big mistake.