The Reading Eagle

Dear Editor:

As the parent company of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, one of seven casinos currently operating in Pennsylvania, we were disappointed to read your recent anti-gaming editorial, “Gambling revenues come at high price” (Feb. 13). 

Last year, Pennsylvania’s fledgling gaming industry, with only half of the total approved facilities in operation, contributed over $780 million for property tax relief for homeowners, as well as rent relief for lower-income senior citizens, and is helping to revitalize the racing industry.  Most importantly, these seven casinos are responsible for more than 6,000 jobs in the Commonwealth, with an additional 3,000 estimated jobs in retail or related businesses. In addition, 17,000 construction jobs were created in building the casinos.
 
While we recognize a small percentage of the population experiences problem gambling, our industry is extremely sensitive to that fact, and spends millions of dollars annually funding research and raising awareness about compulsive gambling disorder. 

The Pennsylvania gaming industry has proven to be a tremendous economic engine that has generated thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars in new economic development in the Commonwealth – these facts should not so easily be brushed aside by your paper, particularly given these difficult economic times.

Sincerely,

Eric Schippers
Senior Vice President, Public Affairs
Penn National Gaming, Inc.