It's crunch time for the region's gambling meccas.
The state Gaming Control Board will convene at 1 o'clock in Philadelphia, at which time they are expected to announce their decision in awarding the city's second casino license.
Every indication is that it will go to the group boosting the Live! Hotel & Casino at 9th and Packer in South Philly, near the sports complex.
That's exactly 12 miles up I-95 from Harrah's in Chester.
And that is just one of the reasons why Harrah's, as well as officials in both Chester and Delaware County believe it's a bad idea.
They all want the board to delay the decision.
So do residents in South Philly who are not thrilled with the idea of having a casino as a neighbor.
Then there's the city's existing casino. That would be SugarHouse. As you can guess, they don't want any more competition either.
Without question the entity most in danger is Harrah's in Chester.
Their revenue has been declining as more and more casinos joined the fray. They got hurt when Parx opened in Bucks County, and again when a smaller casino opened in King of Prussia.
Slots play at Harrah's has been going in reverse for years. Now a similar trend is hitting their table games action. The Gaming Control Board yesterday reported that table games revenue at Harrah's was down 19 percent from a year ago, from $6 million to $4.9 million this year.
Harrah's provides a big chunk of revenue for the city of Chester. It's also one of the city's bigger employers.
In other words, there will be a lot of nervous people around 1 o'clock this afternoon.
You might say it's a sure bet.
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