Pennsylvania Rules Electronic Blackjack Same as Slot Gambling
Pennsylvania has laws against table gaming, but the state regulating board says that if the games are run by computers, then they qualify as slot machines and are legal. The decision by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to allow blackjack, roulette, craps, and poker at state casinos as long as they are electronic seemeed peculiar to some lawmakers.
"I think the only reason we're approving these is that they're electronic," State Senator Patrick Browne said. Just the use of a computer did not mean the games weren't random in results, Browne protested.
The decision allow the Meadows race track to follow through on plans to install sixty electronic table games by April. The racino has been losing masses of customers to West Virginia casinos, which have legal table games.
Some observers called for legislative action to remove the charade and allow table gambling. Union member Rodney Polawski said, "The only differnce between these games and the real thing is the jobs they aren't providing. Plus, cheating is easier with computer games."
The general manager of the Meadows, Mike Graninger, said he'd like to meet constant demand for table games, but the law still blocks live dealers. "We can't change the law, but we can certainly do everything we can to provide our guests with a fun alternative that is as close to table games as you will find anywhere."
