Slot machines will soon be available in two slot parlors in the Philadelphia region, thanks to eight hours of debate in the State House of Representatives, which culminated in a 113-88 vote on July 4.
Three sites in Center City Eighth and Market Streets, 12th and Market Streets and on the Delaware River waterfront have been named as possibilities for the slot machines, but no final decisions have been made.
"We're at least a year away from having the actual locations decided," said Gary Tuma, spokesman for State Sen. Vincent Fumo (D-Phila.), a key author of the legislation.
Up to 61,000 slot machines are authorized to operate at 14 licensed racetracks and gambling venues across the state.
In a bid to increase jobs and keep tax revenues trapped on the home turf, the distributorship clause written by Fumo ensures that all slot machine distributors are based in Pennsylvania.
There are worries, however, that Pennsylvania's permeating "pay-to-play" culture will permit elected officials to illegally profit from slot machine distributorship.
"I find it disturbing that states are trying to promote [tax revenues] by legalizing gambling because this usually works to the economic disadvantage of more improvident and poor citizens," Penn Political Science Department Chairman Rogers Smith said. "It's all the more concerning if lawmakers are in a position to profit from investment in gambling distributorships."
Under the new law, there is no restriction on lawmakers holding an interest in distributorships. By contrast, lawmakers may only own up to 1 percent of a slots parlor.
"The lack of [a limit on distributorships] can be a magnet for political corruption," Smith said.
Indeed, even the 1 percent limit on legislators' interest in slot parlors strikes some as excessive and worrisome.
"There is a movement, which the governor supports, to eliminate [the 1 percent] provision from the legislation," said Chuck Ardo, a spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell. With the provision eliminated, legislators would not be allowed to hold any interest in slots parlors.
Some officials believe the issue is less serious. Fumo, for instance, has said that the existing law is sufficient.
"We have the concept of a citizen legislature," Tuma said. "We don't just restrict [elected officials] to political activity, [but] if you have a conflict of interest that's demonstrable, you're subject" to prosecution.
"I don't know that there's a fear of crime," Tuma added. "It's a pretty tight bill."
Any fears of a crime wave might be quelled by Rendell's selection of former Philadelphia police officer Francis Friel to lead the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
The Gaming Control Board will consist of seven members three appointed by Rendell and one each by the four top legislative leaders who must be appointed by Sept. 4.
With about 30 years of experience under his belt, Friel led the crime task force that broke up Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo's mob in the 1980s.
However, Friel has recently had to face up to his past as one of 33 police officers accused of taking money from a nightclub owner, according to a 1974 Pennsylvania Crime Commission report. Friel was never indicted in connection with the incident.
Despite a number of high-profile demands that Rendell rescind the appointment, Rendell continues to support Friel.
"Any controversy is largely in the mind" of opponents to the slot machine bill, Ardo said.
Rep. Jeffrey Coy (D-Franklin) was appointed by House Minority Leader William DeWeese (D-Greene). Despite plans to resign from his office Sept. 2 to assume the position on the board, there are disputes as to whether Coy is eligible given the state constitution's ban on appointing legislators to paid jobs in civil offices while they serve in elected office.
The board is expected to begin work by October, after being subjected to background checks.
The board will have "to be very careful in the selection process" for bids, Tuma said. "That's an important decision that has far-reaching consequences."
