Published Friday, Feb. 12, 1999 A loosely knit gambling coalition of large and small businesses includes the horse racing industry which fears competition from neighboring states, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh officials who regard riverboat gambling as a catalyst for downtown economic development and thousands of tavern owners who are seeing their business dry up.
Several major casino corporations are also actively lobbying the issue and looking for opportunities especially if riverboat gambling is legalized.
Frustrated by legislative dead ends for years, the pro-gambling forces see an opportunity to sway public opinion now that the House has passed legislation authorizing a three-way referendum on slot machines at racetracks, riverboat gambling and video poker machines in taverns to coincide with the May 18 primary ballot.
The Senate is expected to vote on a referendum bill when members return March 8 after a month-long recess.
Competitive pressures are pushing the four Pennsylvania racetracks to lobby for slot machines as a new way to lure patrons. Racetracks in neighboring Delaware and West Virginia have installed slot machines.
"It's fair to say that the horse racing industry is operating with a major competitive disadvantage," says Mark Singel, the former lieutenant governor who is now a lobbyist for race track owners.
The racing industry says slots will not only preserve several thousand jobs at the racetracks, but also help breeders and farmers whose livelihood is tied to keeping a healthy stock of race horses.
The latest push for riverboat gambling comes from Philadelphia. But John Connelly, owner of the Gateway Clippers Fleet, the Pittsburgh commercial excursion boat operation, has long been interested in riverboat gambling too.
The pitch for video poker machines was made by tavern owners who want something to replace the business lost to tougher drunk driving laws and other societal changes.
