State regulators OK table games at 2 Pa. casinos

March 16, 2010 at 5:50p.m.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Poker, blackjack and other table games should be up and running at two Pennsylvania casinos later this year.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today approved the first two petitions filed under a new law that allows table games to be added to the state’s slot-machine casinos.

The initial approvals are for the Mohegan Sun Casino at the Pocono Downs racetrack near Wilkes-Barre and Parx Casino at the Philadelphia Park racetrack in suburban Philadelphia.

Officials from the two casinos told the gaming board they would hire almost 1,000 new full-time employees to staff the table games. Each of the casino owners must pay a $16.5 million table games license fee by June 1.