Against a backdrop of municipalities lining up to take advantage of a new law permitting them to ban video gaming terminals at truck stops in their municipalities, the Rutter’s convenience store chain is soldiering on, with approvals issued by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board at its July 10 meeting for VGTs at two more Rutter’s locations.
That makes three Rutter’s locations that have been approved for VGTs under provisions of the state’s 2017 gaming expansion law. That law allows five VGTs at each location that meets specific criteria defining a truck stop, including having a separate island for diesel fuel sales, and dedicated parking for at least 20 tractor-trailers.
Rutter’s has applied for VGTs at 21 of its 74 Pennsylvania locations. However, a law signed two weeks ago by Governor Tom Wolf throws those plans into question. Unlike the provision allowing satellite “mini-casinos,” the original law had no provision for local municipalities to opt out of the program. The new law creates a 60-day window in which any municipality can opt out of the program, banning VGTs in their jurisdictions by passing a simple resolution.
The law also rendered moot a lawsuit Rutter’s filed against the town of Strasburg, which used zoning laws to deny permission for Rutter’s to add VGTs in its Strasburg location. Strasburg was set to vote to ban the machines on Tuesday, a move expected of all the municipalities in the surrounding Lancaster County.
Last week, the board approved VGT gaming licenses for Rutter’s stores on the Susquehanna Trail in Manchester Township, York County, near Exit 22 of Interstate 83, and Kuhn Lane, Allegheny Township, Blair County.
Both stores approved Wednesday are among the newer generation of Rutter’s stores that the chain believes meet statutory definitions of truck stops.
In total, the gaming board has approved seven truck stop gaming locations to date. Sixty-five truck stop gaming applications have been received statewide.
