Pa.
House votes to ban Gettysburg casino
By Richard D. L. Fulton
Emmitsburg News Editor
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A bill proposed by Rep. Stephen Maitland
to ban stand-alone casinos in Adams County unanimously passed
in the state House of Representatives March 14, and will now
head to the senate.
The representative's
proposed bill would ban stand-alone casinos in Pennsylvania
counties with a population of between 91,000 and 92,000, which
would include Adams County. Maitland told The Dispatch
his amendment casino to the 2004 slots regulations which would
ban an Adams County casino had only been before the House
less than 10 days before it was adopted.
“The
bill should be in the Senate now,” he said, “and
they could take action today,” but he felt it was more
likely nothing would be done until the April session.
Maitland
said the state Senate faces several options. It can agree
with the House version, which was “unlikely;”
do nothing and letting the House bill “sit there and
whither;” amend the House version; send the bill to
a conference committee; or vote it down, which, he said, was
also “not likely.”
Maitland
said three out of four of his constituency, or 60 percent,
“don’t want it (the casino).” Additionally,
he said, a recent survey of more than 650 voters in Pennsylvania
by the Civil War Preservation trust found that two-thirds
of those were opposed as well. “I really don’t
know the Senate’s thinking on this, Maitland stated,
adding, “I’m hoping they leave this (proposed
amendment) in.
Chance
Enterprises, Inc., headed by local CEO David LaVan, is proposing
to build a slots casino called Crossroads Gaming Resort &
Spa (formerly the Gettysburg Casino & Spa) which would
be located in Straban Township on Route 30 near the U.S. 15
interchange.
The Pennsylvania
Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has set April 5 as a public hearing
date for Chance Enterprises’ proposed Crossroads Gaming
Resort & Spa (formerly the Gettysburg Casino and Spa)
in Straban Township. The public hearing will be held at 8:30
a.m. in the ballroom adjacent to the student union at Gettysburg
College, 300 N. Washington St.
Local
residents and historic preservation groups across the country
have expressed objections to the proposed gambling facility
due to potential, negative impact ranging from alleged associated
social ills to infringement on a historic site of national
significance
