Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Gettysburg Region Casino Applicant Fires Back at Opponents

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board next week could award the final Category 3 resort gaming license for the state. One of the applicants is taking issue with an advertising campaign by its opponents as the board nears a vote. One proposal is to build the casino at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Fayette County; another is for a casino in the Poconos in Monroe County, a third applicants wants the resort casino in Harrisburg; and the fourth, which has drawn the most public scrutiny is by Mason Dixon Resorts which would establish the casino in the Gettysburg region in Adams County. Opponents to the Mason Dixon proposal are running an ad campaign featuring historian Ken Burns who says "placing of a casino approximate to this (Gettysburg) battlefield is profane."
But Mason Dixon spokesman David LaTorre says opponents are trying to make an emotional appeal......
"We're not located on a single inch of the battlefield. We're located in Cumberland Township at an existing resort that has been open for 40 years. We would not build a new structure. We would renovate an existing structure to include the casino. You cannot see our resort from the battlefield."

LaTorre says they have overwhelming community support from the Chamber of Commerce, 200 businesses and the major heritage tourism companies.
LaTorre says there are already 2 casinos in the Pittsburgh area and a casino and a racino in the Poconos.......
"We (Mason Dixon) sit in largest untapped (gaming) market."

The Gaming Control Board could decide December 16 or hold off till its January meeting.

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