\nGambling regulators are nearing a decision on Philadelphia\u2019s second and final casino license, with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board scheduling a Nov. 18 vote that will likely come under scrutiny no matter which of the applicants \u2013 if any \u2013 win a high-stakes competition involving hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue from table games and slot machines.<\/p>\n
\tThe board\u2019s announcement Friday came as Philadelphia\u2019s existing casino renewed its effort to scuttle plans for a second casino in the city, arguing that regulators are operating on \u201cstale information\u201d about the strength of the region\u2019s gambling market.<\/p>\n
\tSugarHouse said in a filing late Thursday that a decline in slots revenue in Pennsylvania as well as the industry\u2019s \u201cimplosion\u201d in nearby Atlantic City, New Jersey \u2013 where four casinos have closed this year \u2013 are clear signs of market saturation.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cIf this second license is issued, it\u2019s bad for everybody. It\u2019s bad for us, it\u2019s bad for our vendors, it\u2019s bad for our employees and it\u2019s bad for most of our competitors,\u201d Wendy Hamilton, general manager of SugarHouse, said in an interview Friday.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cWe are operating in a difficult environment,\u201d she said. \u201cThe thought of adding another mouth at the table is very, very scary.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tSeveral companies have applied for a license to operate a casino in Philadelphia. The board held hearings in January and closed the record soon after. SugarHouse wants the board to take additional testimony and evidence before making its decision on whether to award the license.<\/p>\n
\tBoard spokesman Doug Harbach declined comment on the SugarHouse petition. The board has previously said it would consider the market impact of a second casino.<\/p>\n
\tPennsylvania\u2019s southeastern corner already has four casinos, including SugarHouse, while competition from border states is intensifying. In June, Penn National Gaming Inc. abandoned its bid to build a $480 million casino in south Philadelphia, citing in part the region\u2019s crowded gambling market.<\/p>\n
\tTwo of the remaining applicants for a second Philadelphia license want to build downtown, while two others propose building near the sports complex in south Philadelphia. All of them say there\u2019s room for another casino in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
\tHamilton declined comment on whether SugarHouse would sue to block a second casino, should regulators decide to award the license. Minority investors in SugarHouse have already mounted a legal challenge, though they\u2019ve been unsuccessful.<\/p>\n
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