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Delaware County Officials Ask That Second Philadelphia Casino License Not Be Awarded

By Pat Loeb and David Spunt

FOLSOM, Pa. (CBS) -- Delaware Valley residents will learn on Tuesday whether there will be another casino in Philadelphia.

The opposition to a second casino in Philadelphia got support today from the Delaware County Council, which asked the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board not to award the license when it meets next Tuesday.

"Anyone with common sense sees that the gaming industry has changed wholly over this last year," said councilman John McBlain. He says that Delaware County leadership is not trying to protect the county's own casino -- Harrah's in Chester -- from competition. He says it's trying to protect the region from an Atlantic City-style collapse.

"We think gaming control board ought to take a strong look at what's occurred in Atlantic City, and realize the same thing may very well occur in Pennsylvania," McBlain said.

"Online gaming and the saturation of the casino market... is a dramatic shift in the gaming industry that will substantially affect the existing gaming facilities," he added.

McBlain says any jobs created by a new casino would be offset by jobs lost at other casinos, and any revenue simply cannibalized.

He says if Harrah's loses money and the county loses money, higher taxes may be an option.

"They've been raising taxes here for the past five years anyway," Delaware County resident David Holstein told Eyewitness News.

McBlain echoes the arguments made recently by Sugarhouse Casino in a motion to reopen the record on the license, which closed nine months ago.

Other residents say a new casino will bring jobs, and encourage former Atlantic City workers to cross the state line.

"I think it would be a great thing to increase job force," resident Michelle Cowman said.

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