PA Gaming Control Board Files Complaint to Revoke Foxwoods Casino License

Continues to Ignore Public Opposition to Predatory Casino in Any Form

For Immediate Release

Amidst more than two dozen Philadelphians calling out “revoke, don’t rebid,” the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s enforcement arm today filed a complaint to revoke the license of Foxwoods casino in South Philadelphia. Despite its direct impact on citizens of Philadelphia, questions from the public were neither solicited nor accepted by the board.

Foxwoods will have 30 days to respond to the PGCB’s complaint, at which point additional hearings will be scheduled, from which public input will continue to be excluded.

“We came to Harrisburg to demand that the license be revoked and not re-issued, because predatory gambling has no place in Philadelphia,” said Lily Cavanagh, organizing director for Casino-Free Philadelphia. “The board, unfortunately, has let down the public once again — despite its ‘complaint,’ it’s clear they have yet to recognize the predatory nature of any casino proposal.”

Casino profits depend on cultivating addiction among those who can least afford it, which creates poverty, increases crime and tears apart families and communities. Slot machines are particularly designed to take advantage of those at risk of gambling addiction; but the casino’s predatory tactics include 24/7 operations, free alcohol, and credit lines issued by the casino on slots as well as table games.

A recent report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia concludes, “the incidence of casino taxes on consumers (or households) is likely” to take more from low-income residents than higher income residents.

“This demonstrates that Philly is not going to benefit from predatory casinos,” Cavanagh said, “and extending the drowning Foxwoods project any longer is not in the best interest of Philadelphians. Foxwoods’ permit needs to be revoked, permanently — as well as SugarHouse’s.”

Philadelphians who are opposed to the Foxwoods license can add their names to the Casino-Free Philadelphia petition, “Revoke, Don’t Rebid,” online at www.CasinoFreePhila.org/RevokeFoxwoods or at 718 Market Street.

Casino-Free Philadelphia's mission is to stop casinos from coming to Philadelphia and close any that open. The social and economic costs of predatory gambling are plainly apparent from an industry reliant on addiction to survive. Visit us online at www.CasinoFreePhila.org.

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