December 17th, 2010 – by Glen Farmer
Foxwoods has finally lost their license for a casino in Philadelphia. After four years of stalling and hang ups, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has finally revoked the license that Foxwoods controlled to operate a casino in Philadelphia.
A vote of 6 to 1 on Thursday left Foxwoods without their $50 million dollar slots license. This marks the first time the commonwealth had revoked a license from a casino.
The potential fallout from the Gaming Control Board’s decision has yet to be determined, but some suspect that the issue could wind up in court. Due to a lack of precedence, Pennsylvania’s next step is currently unknown.
The board’s chief counsel, Doug Sherman, stated that an appeal by Foxwoods would be handled by the Commonwealth court. If Foxwoods brings litigation to the court, he added, the license could be frozen.
State Representative Curt Schroder of Exton, a ranking Republican on the House Gaming Oversight Committee, wants the license to be auctioned off throughout the state rather than to Philadelphia bidders.
An attorney representing Foxwoods, F. Warren Jacoby, stated that he was “shocked” by the vote and is uncertain whether or not there would be an appeal to the board’s decision.