Parx Casino

Asked to revise a little-noticed statute that the Montgomery County commissioners say robs them of their share of state gaming money, lawmakers in Harrisburg have so far overwhelmingly offered one response: Don't bet on it. "As of now, there really is not much we can do," wrote State Rep. Robert W. Godshall (R., Montgomery) in a recent letter to county officials. His response came days after the commissioners sent their own missive to the county's 23-member delegation in Harrisburg, pleading for help to change the law they blame for cutting the county out of proceeds other counties receive for hosting casinos within their borders.

Casino windfalls have repaired roads in Bucks County, funded a community college in Delaware County, and helped bridge gaps in the Philadelphia school budget. But in Montgomery County - where the region's fourth casino is set to open in the spring - officials feel as if they have been dealt a losing hand. Under a little-noticed provision in state gaming laws, the county government won't receive a dime - at least directly - from the Valley Forge Resort Casino. Commissioners learned this month that, unlike its neighbors, Montgomery County will have its share of casino revenue diverted to a state agency for grants to finance brownfield cleanups and water-system improvements within its borders.

A COUPLE took a gamble Monday night at SugarHouse Casino in Fishtown by leaving their three grandchildren in the car while they went inside to play, according to police. Despite the odds, the pair came out even after the District Attorney's Office decided not to prosecute because there were no signs of abuse or neglect, said Tasha Jamerson, D.A. spokeswoman. Casino security spotted the children, ages 12, 7 and 2, alone in the car in the casino's parking lot about 7:55 p.m., police said.

HARRISBURG - Top officials from Parx Casino say they've stepped up patrols of the parking lot to combat the problem of parents leaving children unattended in cars at the Bensalem gambling hall while they're gambling. Parx chief executive Leonard DeAngelo and chief counsel Thomas Bonner testified Thursday before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board in Harrisburg. Bonner says the casino, which is next to the Philadelphia Park racetrack, has added a second around-the-clock security patrol in the parking lot and a third vehicle during peak weekend periods.

In the Region Peco electric rate to rise Peco Energy Co. 's residential commodity charge will increase 7 percent on Oct. 1 from 10.42 cents per kilowatt hour to 11.14 cents. The increase in the generation charge, also known as the price to compare, is slightly higher than the utility projected last month. Since only the supply charge is affected, a typical customer's total monthly bill will increase 4 percent, or about $5.40 a month. Several alternative suppliers are offering discounted fixed-rate prices of up to 20 percent off Peco's fourth-quarter rate at www.papowerswitch.com . - Andrew Maykuth Pa. casino table games set record Pennsylvania marked one year of having casino table games with record revenue for the month of July, the state announced.

Pennsylvania marked one year of having casino table games with record revenues for the month of July, the state announced today. Gross table games revenues for the state's 10 casinos was $56.18 million. The last monthly high was in March, with gross revenues from table games of $54.61 million. Parx Casino had the highest gross revenues for July, at $10.28 million. Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack was fourth, at $6.49 million. SugarHouse Casino was fifth, at $6.22 million.

Don't blame casino for kids in cars Leaving unattended children in cars is an illegal and potentially dangerous situation that requires serious attention ("Only Parx casino has child problem," Tuesday). At Parx, we are exceptionally diligent on this issue, and, we believe, more so than any other major entertainment, sporting, or retail venue. As a prominent business in the area and a responsible community member, Parx will maintain that diligence with the urgency it demands. Working with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, local and state police, and Bensalem Township, we have measures in place, including comprehensive camera surveillance of our parking lots, signs at all entrances alerting patrons to report unattended children, and continuous roving security, with two vehicles operating 24/7 and a third during peak periods.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has formally asked that representatives of Parx Casino appear Aug. 18 in Harrisburg to discuss the Bensalem casino's plan to deal with the problem with adults leaving children in vehicles while the adults gamble. The call to the board's monthly meeting is "for informational purposes," said spokesman Doug Harbach. The board wants to hear first hand from Parx officials about efforts undertaken since the casino submitted a plan of action on Aug. 19, 2010, to deal with the ongoing probem, Harbach said.

Profits and parenting are on a collision course at Parx Casino. Becoming the quintessential "neighborhood casino" has given Parx the dubious distinction of being the only gambling hall in Pennsylvania where adults have been caught leaving children in vehicles parked outside while they gambled inside. The increasingly tense clash of parental responsibility and casino accountability could be taken up Aug. 18 before the state Gaming Control Board in Harrisburg. Thus far, no fines have been levied on Parx because of recurring incidents of child neglect by its patrons.