Move over New Jersey…Pennsylvania is now the 2nd largest casino market in the nation. And it’s still expanding. As highlighted in this Associated Press story , Pennsylvania legalized slot machines at race tracks in 2004 and still more money from the state’s other casinos is earmarked to support the horse racing and agribusiness industries.
“Virtually every jurisdiction in the country would kill for that kind of growth, especially in a sluggish economy,” said Joe Weinert, senior vice president of Spectrum Gaming Group, a New Jersey casino consulting firm, who called the state the “envy of the casino industry.”
Three Illinois casino owners also own casinos and/or RACINOS in Pennsylvania.
- Harrah’s (Harrah’s Joliet, Harrah’s Metropolis and the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana; as well as Harrah’s St. Louis), also owns Harrah’s Chester Down Race Track Casino.
- Penn National (Hollywood Casinos in Joliet and Aurora and the Argosy Casino in Alton) also owns Hollywood Casino/Penn National Race Course).
- Neil Bluhm (the new Rivers Casino in Des Plaines) also owns Sugarhouse Casino in Philadelphia.