Philadelphia Chinatown Stops Adjacent Foxwoods Casino

From Asian Americans United article

We have achieved one of the major goals of our campaign. We stopped Foxwoods from building a slots parlor in the heart of our city.

At a public hearing on Friday, August 28th, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board extended Foxwoods’ slots license for another 21 months, with the condition that Foxwoods stick to its licensed site at the waterfront in South Philadelphia.

• Foxwoods’ attempt to locate in center city has been rebuffed.
• Foxwoods investor, Ron Rubin’s attempt to become Foxwoods’ landlord as well has been foiled.
• Philadelphia’s political elite’s attempt to force a Center City casino on Philadelphian has been denied.

Now, as Foxwoods faces the choice of building at the waterfront or no place at all, it does so in an extremely weakened state. The casino industry growth has stalled nationwide.

Everybody said this battle could not be won. Since the start of this struggle, we have understood the powerful array of forces lined up against us.

There is More Work To Be Done

It is our Coalition’s – No Casinos in the Heart of the City’s – stand that slots parlors do not belong near any neighborhood. It wasn’t right for Chinatown and Center City to be saddled with casino. Neither is it right for the people of Pennsport, South Philadelphia, Fishtown or Northern Liberties to be saddled with one.

We also understand that casinos profit by promoting addiction and impoverishing their customers, and the threat of this predatory business extends beyond neighborhood boundaries.

We also need to be vigilant and guard against future casino intrusion into Center City. If Foxwoods fails to meet the conditions of the Gaming Control Board, their license would be revoked and new casino developers sought – which might mean a return to the center city site.