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One of the biggest problems the recession created was the jobless rate. Record numbers were reached during the height of the recession and now, though it is months later, little improvement has been made. Some economies have seen their double-digit unemployment rates come down to single digits, but that is still not good enough news for many analysts. They believe that until the rate is closer to what its average was pre-recession, the economy of the US will still be in trouble. Despite the negative result of a high unemployment rate, there are still some nascent signs of improvement. One such improvement is from an unexpected source.

It seems that the very thing that is highly controversial to the market—gambling—is what is bringing the hope for new jobs. Take Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware for example. The states just approved table games and that is opening up a new job market. More gambling tables means the need for more employees to manage them. Whether it is a dealer to manage a table, or just wait staff to handle the increase in patrons, it still means that there are more jobs on the horizon of the job market. One state that is creating a lot of jobs is Pennsylvania. Experts reported that over 4,400 jobs have been created due to the result of approving and allowing table games. The state admits its new need for clerks, dealers, security and managers to handle the substantial increase in business. The question is, is it all worth it?

A resounding “yes” is the answer. Analysts have estimated that slot machines in the state are scheduled to bring in over $116 million in tax-revenue dollars this month alone. Though that could be a record number due to the newness of the market, it still is indicative of an overall increase in revenue. Pennsylvania is not going to deny that increase in revenue, even if it is exaggerated due to the circumstances. If you add to that the advantage of having over four-thousand people out of the unemployment line, it means a great advantage for the residents overall.

Once the player realized he won, he was stopped prior to payout. It was only until then that the casino checked his name and found him to already be signed up on the self-exclusion list. The incident made headline news though because it shows a flaw in the system. If one person who self-admittedly has a problem requested that state casinos deny him or her access and that system failed, how many more times has it failed? If the system is allowing gamblers to play despite their wishes, then the rules need to be revisited for modifications. Some opponents of gambling in the state are citing this one incident as a sign that things are not working. Though the communities cannot go back on their laws, they can reword them.

One of the primary focuses of writing gambling laws was to protect players. Opponents cited that bringing legalized gambling into communities may be too much of a temptation for gamblers. Their primary issue was how casino operators were going to protect addicts and build safeguards to help them with their problem. Would casinos be able to police those with potential problems? Would casinos be able to keep them off of the casino floor? Would the system work, or were operators just pushing for the laws to go through so they could start collecting money?

The other issue with people on the self-exclusion list being able to gamble is that if they are, they are gambling with no possibility of winning. A player could wager hundreds, even thousands, before he or she wins and the casino is aware of their position. That means the casino would take the wagered money from players who have no chance of walking out of the casino with a win. It’s a win-win for the casino. If a player on the self-exclusion list wins, the casino operators could refuse legally to pay them on the grounds that they should have not been wagering in the first place. It is a deep issue and obviously not a well thought-out one. It will take time to shore up rules and ensure that those who don’t want to gamble are not allowed onto the casino floor.

Quite possibly regulators didn’t know what they were getting into when they first were tasked with writing laws that would legalize and regulate gambling when playing at a casino online. It is proving to be a daunting task with a lot of passionate arguments on each side of the picture. On one hand proponents believe that the level of tax-revenue dollars that could be brought into the communities is impossible to pass up. They believe that with the proper regulation, the problems of crime and corruption will be minimized. Then there is just as strong an opposing group. They believe that the crime and corruption potential is too big a risk for communities to handle. They are taking a much more ethical stand, believing that the amount of problems a community has will be too hard for them to manage. They also cite the growth in gambling addictions too high a price for any community to pay and the limited number of Gamblers Anonymous locations throughout the US as an additional problem.

Pennsylvania is a state that is in the midst of the exact arguments and debates over the issue. The state’s legislators are debating the regulation of gambling and how they can make it work within the borders. Though regulations are already being followed, recent events have proven that there are some problems with them. At the Presque Isle Downs and Casino one player gambled on a machine and found himself in line for the jackpot. This would have been a normal everyday occurrence had one thing not been true: the player was already signed up on the casino’s “self-exclusion list.” This is a master list every casino is required to maintain and it is full of players who have gambling addictions and want to be denied access to casinos. They sign up their own names and theoretically the casino should turn them away at the door. It was a safeguard built into the system that was one of the reasons why some legislators agreed to legalizing gambling. They believed that with the right rules in place, it would work without a glitch. Unfortunately, that day in Pennsylvania the system didn’t work.
Part two coming next.

SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia is being promoted as a positive change for the community. It was a few years back that the casino’s operators were debating over opening the casino in the first place. They opted for the change and it was decided upon due to its struggling economy. Philadelphia’s economy was as ravished as other states in the US. Since the recession is has been hard for all states to recover and legislators in Philadelphia know it. They debated, but almost immediately approved the building of sugarhouse. Part of the main reason was because of the job opportunities the new casino would create. The biggest problem with the economy a few months ago was the heightened unemployment rate. Millions of Americans were left without money-making opportunities. Even the President spoke of unemployment being the biggest problem the US had to deal with.
Building a casino in the state had a dual purpose—to bring in millions in tax-revenue and also to create jobs for residents. The public stood behind the changes and approved of the casino. It was soon on the way to becoming a reality. Now, September is still the month it is expected to be fully functioning. Mayor Michael Nutter was at the location recently to approve of its final steel beam lifting. It marked a momentous occasion in the history of the state. Not only is it a sign to the people that a new economy has begun, it also means that people have hope that they now have ways to support themselves.

So far experts are citing a growth of 800 jobs in the state as a result of SugarHouse. They note that the casino will eventually have over 1,500 slot machines to work with. This most likely means that they will need more workers soon to come into the casino and operate it. Depending on its success, it could mean more than a few hundred jobs to be brought to the community. Things are looking good for the state and legislators are excited about coming months and how gambling will play an important role in the state’s economy.

Pennsylvania legislators are ready for gaming. So far table games have been the target for change and they are now legalized. The last issue to be resolved is the live in-house trial run. State law dictates that regulators have to visit each casino and test out every game. They are responsible for making sure the games are reliable before the public is open to play them. It was the second week of July that Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racecourse welcomed legislators for their test day. Inspectors visited the facility to play various table games for eight hours op operations. That inspection ushered in the official opening of the casino to the general public.

Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz stated that casino operators throughout the state are excited about the changes pending, however to make the transition to gambling they have to protect the general public. It is their primary focus to make sure that all games are reliable and follow good gaming practices. One problem with a single machine could cost the facility thousands in lost revenue. Operators at Hollywood Casino were hoping for a clean bill of health during their review. Optimally this is what would allow them to open on time and make the most of the gambling legalization in the state of Pennsylvania. Thankfully they were approved and the casino opened just two days after the thorough review by regulators.

One of the draws of the state’s goals is to attract gamers and overtake near-by Atlantic City as a gambling hub of the area. It is even capable of competing with some of the best online casinos around today. It may take some time, but this is the first step to the change. If Penn National can immediately build a name for itself via Holly wood Casino it can more easily move into the market. Future developments and expansion are already on the docket for approval in the near future. The state’s legislators seems confident that it is well on its way to becoming a gaming center of the area of the US. Casino operators agree and are putting their hope on the market as a means of spurring the economy into action post-recession.

Pennsylvania is drawing criticism on a new move to include millions of dollars in gambling revenue in the state’s 2010/2011 budget. Why? Because gambling is not yet legal in the state. Lawmakers are taking a lot of slack because of their premature decision to include the revenue. They originally were on track to legalize and regulate gambling early last year and everyone thought that they soon would join the increasing number of states accepting gambling as a viable money-raising option to the market. Now—over 9 months later, a decision has still not bee made.

Part of the problem is that legislators are torn. It’s the age-old argument. On one side the money is attractive. On the other side, the social price of gambling is frightening. In particular, Pennsylvania’s critics of legalizing gambling are citing the threat it poses to the most vulnerable—the elderly and the underage. Both demographics are being noted as prone to gambling addictions. In particular the elderly are being singled out due to their limited incomes. For example, if an elderly person who relies on Social Security checks to get them through their month of expenses starts putting that money towards gambling, instead of bills, they could financially dissolve their life. It could lead to foreclosure, homelessness, and overall depression. Critics are asking if the state has the necessary resources to handle the added stress of people falling into problems in mass numbers.

So far there is no agreement regarding gambling or whether or not it should be legalized. Penn State University is an organization with a vested interest in the decision. Spokesperson for the company Lisa Powers said, “So far we are about $150 million behind and we have been dipping in reserves. Every day we do that it costs Penn State’s students and their families.” Due to the lag in a decision, state-funded programs at the university are in limbo. No one knows if they will get funding, or have to be cut from the budget altogether. All parties involved—whether on the support side or not—are waiting very impatiently for an answer. Hopefully the issue will be cleared up in a few short months of further negotiations and talks.

A few weeks ago the state House of Pennsylvania decided to approve table game gambling. The House voted in favor of a huge gambling bill that will bring changes to the casino industry throughout the northeast. The bill was passed at a 97-95 vote and it sets taxes and licensing prices. It also portions out the money projected to come from gambling into various areas of the state’s budget.

In a separate bill, the House also voted in favor of portioning out a good sum of the revenue to universities. This is good news for the state education industry because they have long been put on hold due to lack of money. Many universities had to postpone their financial aid programs and cut various programs from their budget. They also had to lay-off teachers and university staff. The recession was difficult on the economy and education was not untouched. Many schools have been hard-pressed to manage as they have been on hold by the state regarding funding for the upcoming school year.

When it comes to the new bill, there is still a major split along party lines. The House majority Democrats were able to push the legislation through although most Republicans voted against it. The final approval for the bill is expected to come soon. If it is approved, the tax rate for race tracks/racinos would be 16% for their table games. This rate would drop to 14% in 2011. Licensing fees for table games would be a one-time fee of $16.5 million. There are huge dollars expected to come into the state via gambling and due to the deficit, the state is doing all it can to make the law work.

The entire House was rushed by the bill. Most felt that they should have had more time to weigh out the bill and its ramifications to the state. They would have preferred more time to thoroughly examine the full 650-page bill and understand its full meaning. Though the House is divided almost squarely down the center, the bill did win out the approval. Only time will tell what that will mean for the state in terms of laws regarding video gambling and revenues in coming years.

When it comes to playing on the electronic table games, the reviews are still not in.  Some people like the electronic games and others prefer the real-live dealer feel.  Shannon Ridenour, an avid slots gambler, was among the first to enjoy the touch screen terminals offering roulette. As the automated wheel spun and bets were placed, Ridenour and others watched the ball settle via a live feed transmitted to their screens by an overhead camera. “I like it better than the regular table roulette, where everyone’s crossing their arms over each other,” said Ridenour, 38. “This is much quicker.” Ridenour, a casino regular, characterized the atmosphere at Indiana Live, which has 2,000 slot machines, as “Vegas lite.”

Other patrons of electronic table games in Indiana and Pennsylvania weren’t as positive about the electronic games, though their criticisms didn’t stop them from playing.  Ernie Turner stated, “I like a live dealer, and I like a real deck of cards.” Gambling analysts said avid players have better odds of winning at live games, because their chances are not restricted by a computer. Payouts at slot machines are typically set and regulated by states. Jeffrey Hooke, a gambling consultant, “It’s not like the player is battling against a dealer or against a deck of cards that could run hot or cold.”

The decision to accept table games and slots will ultimately be in the hands of Maryland officials. The state is solely responsible for purchasing and leasing the slots machines for the state and it is in their best interest to act wisely.  Roogow and other state officials are all determined to find the most cost-effective and lucrative option for the state because it gets a large percentage of the slot machine proceeds.  They want to maximize their dollars and bring in as much as possible. “Since this is about competing with neighboring states, we would hope they’re included in the mix,” said Eric Schippers, a spokesman for Penn National Gaming, which will operate the Cecil County venue. “In other jurisdictions, electronic table games have been found to be slot machines, because they are.”

Part of the campaign’s strength was advertising the hundreds of millions in revenue that would be accessible with the approval of slots parlors. That money was to be targeted to fund growth, education, and public works programs. Opponents warned of gambling addiction, crime, and corruption. Neither side focused on the kinds of games that would be allowed, but there was nothing secret either, some lawmakers said. “People should have done their homework if they thought this was some quaint little industry coming to Maryland,” said Representative Justin D. Ross, a slots opponent. “As far as I can tell, these machines are perfectly legal. It’s getting close to the line for sure, but it’s on this side of the line.”

Spokesperson for Governor Martin O’Malley, Rick Abbruzzese said electronic table games were “fully anticipated when the law was being crafted and the referendum went to voters.” He emphasized that Maryland needs to be competitive in its games choices with surrounding states that have slot machines. At a Pennsylvania slots casino run by the same firm that Maryland recently awarded a license to open a 1,500-machine slots parlor in Cecil County, the nearly life-size image of a woman in a tight blue dress appears on the video screens of virtual blackjack tables. “Want to play blackjack?” she asks playfully, before appearing to deal cards that show up on monitors in front of the players. An Indiana casino operated by the same firm just proposed a 4,750-machine casino at a mall in Anne Arundel County, real-life employees often greet players at the virtual blackjack tables. They serve beer and offer high-fives when a player beats the computerized dealer.

Gamblers at Indiana Live, about 25 miles southeast of Indianapolis, also are privy to an electronic version of roulette and compete at electronic poker tables. Next month, the casino plans to introduce electronic craps. Players will wager on virtual dice that are thrown electronically on a green screen. On a recent weeknight, the dozen six-seat blackjack tables were nearly full, and the roulette game was in full swing. Slots parlors all over the nation are moving to bring in additional methods of gaming. They cite the necessity to remain competitive as their impetus to the expansion.

Part three coming next.

Last year Maryland legalized slot machines, much to the approval of legislators looking to capitalize on the huge tax revenue dollars the machines inevitably bring in. One thing the state did not do however, was include legalizing blackjack, roulette and other table games. The reason was the state wanted to avoid the full onslaught of arguments against building casinos in the community.  Now however, things are set to change.

Although simple slots parlors were initially on the agenda, now it seems that the parlors may be expanded to include more. Voters authorized five venues and many believe that that limits the venues to slots parlors. State officials are now saying that they probably will allow electronic versions of the banned games when casinos start opening next year.  Buddy W. Roogow, director of the Maryland Lottery, stated, “I fully expect them to be included. We in Maryland have to be competitive.” Although the games do not use actual cards, chips or dice, they still manage to replicate the real land-based casino feel. For example, players who gather around electronic blackjack tables can double down or buy insurance with the press of a button as they try to beat the hand of a computerized dealer, sometimes wagering hundreds of dollars. The virtual table games are classified as slots in most states largely because the chances of winning are determined and monitored by a computer with no direct human interaction. They are all based on “luck”, or the random number generator inside, and therefore not games of skill.

When the community was at its initial debate over allowing slots games into the economy, not talk of additional table games were discussed. This most likely was due to lawmakers’ hesitations about expanding gambling. Slots were considered more acceptable because they are less susceptible to fraud. And little was said about electronic versions of the games, which have become popular only in recent years.  “It’s no surprise this industry would stretch the definition as far as it will go, but I don’t think that was the understanding of voters or the General Assembly,” said Representative Tom Hucker, who said he voted to put the slots measure on the ballot last year because he feared school budget cuts loomed as an alternative. He later changed his mind and campaigned against the ballot proposal.

Part two coming next.