Slot expansion

Slots are on the march in both Pennsylvania and Texas. First, the story in the Keystone State, from philly.com:

GOV. RENDELL may have finally hit the jackpot after 16 months of tugging at a one-armed bandit.

Two gambling parlors in Center City and slots at Philadelphia Park in Bensalem would mean a reduction in the city wage tax and a cut in property taxes for some low-income Philadelphia seniors.

State legislative leaders and Rendell have "pretty much an agreement in principle" on a proposed bill to legalize slots, according to state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, R-Bucks.

Tomlinson expects a slots vote on Tuesday or Wednesday, the deadline to pass the state budget and other pending legislation.

"I know there are still some strong opinions on this," he added. "I think there will be some floor debate and attempts to derail us."

Statewide, $1 billion in taxes expected to be collected from slots revenue would be used for property tax relief. Other taxes would go to local municipalities and to help pay for capital projects.

One proposal calls for slot taxes to pick up some of the $600 million cost to expand the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

The bill would allow slots in 14 venues across the state, 12 full licenses and two resort licenses, according to a legislative source.

Full licenses, permitting 3,000 slot machines to start and another 2,000 in a year, would be assigned to six existing horse racing tracks, including Philadelphia Park. Two licenses would be based in Center City parlors. One license for either a parlor or racetrack would be assigned to Pittsburgh. There are two unassigned horse track licenses to be distributed, where slots could be located. One or two more non-track licenses could also be issued.

The resort licenses would allow 500 slot machines but only guests would be permitted to play.

OK for slots is close

The measure is apparently "90% there." Good news for slot makers, probably bad news for Delaware and New Jersey.

Texas is not as far along, but looks like it is heading in the same direction. From the Thoroughbred Times:

Although the fate of expanded gaming legislation in Texas is uncertain, officials at Lone Star Park want to be sure they are ready to install video lottery terminals as soon as possible if the Texas Legislature decides to approve such gambling.

Magna Entertainment Corp., which completed its purchase of the Lone Star racing license in October 2002, has devised expansion plans in preparation for the advent of slots, including a new 131,000-square-foot gaming building, shopping center, restaurant complex, hotel, and possibly a movie theater.

"We would be among the best destination tourist sites in America," Magna Group Vice President Corey Johnsen told the Dallas Morning News.

The Texas Racing Commission has studied the slots issue, and its estimates indicate that Lone Star could support 8,700 VLTs and, with a 6% tax rate on each machine for purses, offer average daily Thoroughbred purses in excess of $600,000 for a 75-day season. With an 8% rate, the daily total would balloon to $750,000.

Thoroughbred Times: Lone Star, Texas racing officials weighing potential of slots

So, if you live in Philadelphia or Dallas, you might not have to drive as long to get a crack at the new Garfield machine.

According to Mikhon, Garfield is transcendent:

The world's most lovable and recognized feline, GARFIELD™ comes to life in the new GARFIELD IT'S ALL ABOUT ME! video slot. See how the feistiest, funniest, wisecracking and laziest cat gets into a heap of trouble with Jon, Odie and Arlene.

For your amusement, I have spent a few seconds and compiled a list of cats that would destroy Garfield:

1. Topcat (along with the rest of his gang)
2. Tom
3. Morris
4. Mr. Jinx
5. Puss-in-Boots
6. Henrietta
7. Snagglepuss
8. Azrael
9. Salem

Doing research for that, I discovered that some people spend WAY too much time posting pictures of their cats to the web. I guess Mikhon knows what they're on to here.

I got a chance to view the game demo (which takes a while to load but is worth it), and this game sure looks strange. Garfield apparently goes on eating binges:

Garfield is in a frenzy! Watch him come to life in the APPETITE and the POPCORN/BURP reel strip bonus games. He goes on an eating binge of reel symbols, leaving them WILD in his wake!

I'm sure that's not all he leaves in his wake.
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posted by Dave at 9:07 AM

Slot expansion

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