"The state's requirement to deploy as many as 5,000 slot machines per gaming facility coupled with the casino industry preference of locating all gaming functions on the same floor creates substantial space needs, making the placement of a slots-only casino in Center City a significant challenge," the board wrote. As a result, it deemed the 2.8 acres available at 8th and Market streets "inadequate."
Although the board says the 13-acre Penn's Landing site is not only large enough, but also potentially, a top-revenue generator, it recommended that it not be up for consideration "due to other higher and better uses for this key waterfront location. A casino at this location could significantly limit public access to the riverfront at this important historical location," according to the report.
As for optimum sites for slots parlors, the board concluded that the city should reserve final judgment until it has received complete development proposals with detailed information. "Quite simply, poor quality proposals could be submitted for potentially excellent sites, just as developer-operators could submit very creative and compelling proposals for what currently appear to be very challenged sites," the report concluded.
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