Committee approves casino statements bill

A bill that would require Pennsylvania's casinos to mail monthly win/loss statements to gamblers with players' club cards is gaining steam in Harrisburg despite opposition from some Democratic lawmakers.

The Pennsylvania House Gaming Oversight Committee on Wednesday voted 14-11 in support of a bill introduced by state Rep. Paul Clymer, R-145, to mandate

the monthly statements.

Clymer calls it a "consumer protection issue," informing gamblers and their families about money lost in the casinos. His bill was opposed by the committee's 11-member Democratic minority, including local state Rep. Tina Davis, R-141.

Davis said she initially sought to postpone a vote on the bill so that lawmakers could gather more information about its implications. "I understand the intent. Clymer wants to help addicts," Davis said. "But I need to see some evidence that this bill would actually help addicts to break their addictions."

Davis also said that members of the gaming oversight committee had received letters from casinos, warning them that a monthly statements program would cost millions of dollars to implement and jeopardize tax revenues generated for the state.

Officials at Parx Casino in Bensalem declined comment on Clymer's bill or the cost to implement a monthly statements program.

Slots machines generated $117 million in tax revenue for Pennsylvania in March, according to the state gaming control board. That amounts to about $3.8 million in tax revenue each day with the 55 percent assessment on all slot machines.

"With the budget issues that we're facing right now, I'm not going to support anything that costs the state more money," Davis said.

Lawmakers are grappling with a $4 billion budget deficit.

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