Consultant's Report Handicaps Economic Impact of New Philly Casinos
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- A new consultant's report suggests that two sites in center city Philadelphia and one in Fishtown would have the greatest economic impact among the six applicants vying for the city's second casino license.
The report shows that the "Provence" and "Market 8" projects proposed for center city and the "Wynn Philadelphia," proposed for Fishtown, are generally among the top three in several of the categories in the economic impact study.
Provence and Market 8 are number one and two, respectively, in tax revenues that would be generated to the state and city. The report projects that Provence would return more than $15 million in gaming tax revenues to the city.
Read the full, 69-page consultant's report (.pdf format)
But Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board spokesman Doug Harbach says don't jump to conclusions about which proposed casino is going to get the nod.
"The city's consultant's report is a useful piece of evidence," Harbach notes. "The board members will weigh this with a lot of other evidence that's being obtained or has been obtained."
The gaming board will hold hearings on the suitability of the applicants in January.
The report, prepared for the city by AKRF, is available at the Gaming Control Board's web site.