The top executive of Philadelphia’s SugarHouse Casino went before a state legislative committee last week and flatly rejected the findings of a study group funded by the Pennsylvania General Assembly that found room in the market for a second Philadelphia casino.
Testifying before a state Senate committee, SugarHouse General Manager Wendy Hamilton said the entire regional market would be hurt by a second Philadelphia casino, denying the study’s findings that the market will support another gaming hall. “The second Philadelphia license should be reissued to no one, because this action right now will decimate the Southeast Pennsylvania casino industry,” Hamilton testified.
The second Philadelphia license was stripped from the Foxwoods Philadelphia project after the partners in that casino failed to meet financing and construction plan deadlines. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is currently considering five applicants for that second license.
Gaming board Chairman William Ryan, speaking to KYW Newsradio last week, said while members have been “working hard” to decide among the five applicants, the board does have the prerogative to decide not to reissue the license at this time, due to Northeast market saturation.
SugarHouse currently competes with three other casinos in the immediate Philadelphia area—Parx Casino at Philadelphia Park, Harrah’s Philadelphia in Chester and Valley Forge Casino Resort—as well as casinos within relatively easy driving distance in Bethlehem, Wilkes-Barre, the Poconos and Harrisburg. To the south is competition from Delaware Park and the Maryland casinos.
