Pennsylvania casinos refuse to buy into new liquor law

Last month lawmakers passed a measure to allow casinos to dispense alcohol for an additional four hours per night on the condition that each venue pays US$1 million.

US.-  Last month legislators in Harrisburg passed a law to allow the state’s 12 casinos to dispense liquor for an additional four hours each night on the condition that they US$1 million for the expanded liquor license.

Now, the Hollywood Casino near Harrisburg affirms it does not plan to pay US$1 million to serve alcohol between 2 and 6 am, a position the majority of Pennsylvania casinos are taking. Furthermore, according to several casino representatives, the revenue grab by state legislators won’t be paying off.

“We’re not going to pay US$1 million for the privilege of selling alcohol after 2 am and I don’t know any other casino that will,” said Mark Juliano, Sands Casino CEO. “This one doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

The Republican-controlled state legislature is looking for untapped revenue sources to endow Governor Tom Wolf’s (D) US$31 billion budget. The spending plan is still short about US$1 billion in funding and the so-called “sin industries” are being targeted.