Pennsylvania Sen. Daniel Laughlin introduced a bill earlier this month that would lower the slots minimum for Category 1 and 2 casinos. The bill was approved by the Senate on Wednesday.
Laughlin introduced a similar bill in April which advanced to the Senate floor in May. However, his most recent legislation, SB 840, needs only one more step before it appears on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk.
Currently, Category 1 and 2 Pennsylvania casinos must have at least 1,500 slot machines on their properties. SB 840 proposes to lower the threshold to 1,000.
Laughlin oversees the Erie County area, where Presque Isle Downs and Casino resides. The property has faced some hard times, with General Manager Gary Hendricks questioning the casino’s long-term sustainability, citing the proliferation of untaxed skill game machines across the state.
