Pennsylvania Conference Slams Slots

As reported by the New Jersey Express-Times: "Las Vegas Sands Corp. was a top sponsor of this week's gathering of community planners in the city, but you wouldn't have guessed that at Wednesday's session on slots in Pennsylvania.

"One speaker at the session, which closed out the Pennsylvania Planning Association's annual conference, projected social costs will match projected state revenue dollar for dollar. Another said West Virginia's experiencing a windfall, while another gave reasons why gambling won't help Pennsylvania.

"And fourth speaker, a school board member, said property taxes are fine as is, without being offset by gambling revenue.

"The picture that speakers painted of Pennsylvania slots began rosy enough.

"'There is no doubt that the introduction of 60,000 slot machines is going to bring huge economic benefits for the state of Pennsylvania,' said Arthur Sterngold, a professor of business at Lycoming College in Williamsport and the first presenter at Wednesday's session.

"But gauging whether the overall impact will be positive or negative is nearly impossible, Sterngold said. He cautioned that most gambling studies are unreliable and fueled by bias…"