By: Albert Strauss, Aja Carr and Amanda Wylie Parx Casino On a state and local level

Background Location Bensalem, Pennsylvania Opened on December 18, 2009 Casino type: Land-Based Owner: Greenwood Racing, Inc. Description: Facility that totals 260,000 square feet. There are 3,300 slots and 176 electronic table games including blackjack, Three Card Poker and single-zero roulette, accompanied by five food and beverage outlets in all. Ex: Chickie’s and Pete’s, Club 360 $350 million to construct the Parx Casino

Job creations in Pa Hundreds of construction workers were employed to build Parx Casino, from local construction cement and steel workers to several. Electricians and computer programming and security. It opened a lot of contract( bids) business opportunities for local blue collared workers. Created more jobs for surrounding establishments. The project helped keep local construction workers busy during the recession.

Staff + Crew Of Parx Casino Creation of 125 Full Time Permanent Executive, Managerial and Professional Positions. Finance, Info Technology, Food beverage, Warehouse, Slot Operator, Human Resources, Environmental Services, Marketing, Security, Surveillance, Facilities.

Employment Statistics 593 employees in the gaming operation. 508 employees (86%) are Pennsylvania residents. Approximately 30% of the employees are representatives of various minority groups. 40% of the employees are woman.

Harrisburg and the Casino Board members in Harrisburg voted to renew the category 1 casino operators license’s for Parx casino. Since its opening day, Parx has generated more than 1.3 billion in gross terminal revenue from slot machines estimated at approximately 710 million RETURNED to the capital in gaming taxes for Pennsylvania being the highest amount for any Pa casino. Positive influences are strong between Harrisburg and Parx Casino.

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is a governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, founded in 2004 as the state licensing and regulatory agency responsible for overseeing slot machines and casino gambling in the state. The Gaming Act requires a role in gaming oversight by the Pa State Police, Pa Department of Revenue and Attorney General, whose costs are also reimbursed from slot machine revenues.

Parx grants available to Local Municipalities. Several towns have applied for their share of an estimated 3.8 million in casino grant funds. Funds generated from slot plays available to bidding communities. The Bucks County Redevelopment Authority announces winners and chooses fund disbursement.

Townships and Funds Received Bensalem Township received $270,000 for Training And Equipment for Police Officers and Firefighters. Also, $175,000 was given to build a new Public Safety Training Center. Bristol Township received $1.6 million for Police, Firefighters, and EMS equipment and personnel. Middletown Township received $1.7 million to repave access roads along Route 1, new Police vehicles, and renovations to Town Hall. Morrisville Borough received $200,000 for a Police car, a street sweeper, and new street lights.

Parx is a active participant with local businesses and development African American Chamber Of Commerce Asian American Chamber Of Commerce Lower Bucks Chamber Of Commerce Hispanic Chamber Of Greater Philadelphia Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau Women’s Business Enterprise Council

Contributions and Donations Over $8 million have been distributed to over 200 individuals and organizations within Pennsylvania. UNICEF Red Cross – Haiti Relief Red Cross – Chile Relief Nancy Davis Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis UCLA Medical Center, Division for Digestive Diseases Elton John Aids Foundation Living Beyond Breast Cancer Hero Scholarship Fund Council on Compulsive Gambling Special Olympics Bensalem Summer Concert Series Bensalem Pride Day NAACP Bucks County Annual Dinner Children’s Diabetes Foundation Historic Philadelphia, Inc. Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation/ Turning for Home Inc. Bensalem Township EMS Scholarship awards to Bensalem High School graduates Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program contributes an annual maximum of $250,000 to benefit local schools in Bucks County.

Our Conclusion After working together and doing this project on Parx Casino, we have learned that casinos benefit the community tremendously. Although Parx Casino has met its fair share of controversies, we believe that they contribute more than enough of their profits and place good back into the community.

Sources Buck County Courier Times