LCB Moves To Make Small Games Of Chance More Inviting For Taverns
By Tony Romeo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Liquor Control Board has voted to reduce the $2,000 license fee for taverns to operate small games of chance to $500 in a bid to stimulate interest in tavern gaming, which has so far been a flop in Pennsylvania.
To date, only two dozen or so taverns have gotten or have been approved to get licenses to offer three small games of chance -- pull-tabs, daily drawings and raffles.
Amy Christie, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage Association, says two major obstacles have emerged: One is the cost of a gaming license and the other is concerns tavern owners have that violations associated with the gaming license could jeopardize their more valuable liquor license
"From the calls that I've received over the last six months, I'd say it's 50-50," says Christie.
She believes lowering the cost of gaming licenses will help, but she's also calling for action on legislation that would relax the linkage between a tavern's gaming license and its liquor license.
