HARRISBURG – Senators Scott Martin (R-13) and Ryan Aument (R-36) applauded the House of Representatives today for taking quick action to pass their bill giving Lancaster County municipalities the option to prohibit video gaming terminals (VGTs) at local truck stops. The legislation was sent to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
Senate Bill 321 would give each municipality in Lancaster County a 60-day window to decline VGTs at truck stops within its borders by passing a simple resolution. Municipalities would have the authority to opt-in at a later date through the same process.
The legislation authored by Martin and Aument would only apply to Lancaster County, as well as any other county that meets certain population and other requirements.
“House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler deserves a great deal of credit for his leadership on this issue, and I thank the members of the House of Representatives for giving the people of Lancaster County the final say on local gambling options,” Aument said. “Lancaster County has fiercely fought back against the idea of establishing new gambling venues here, and it is encouraging to see lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers of the General Assembly stand up for the rights of our local residents.”
“I appreciate the fact that Majority Leader Cutler and leaders on both sides of aisle have joined together to ensure the principle of local control over gambling decisions is upheld,” Martin said. “Gambling can have a negative impact on the character of a community, and I am hopeful Governor Wolf will do the right thing in signing this bill into law and ensuring no community is forced to accept gambling activities they do not want.”
VGTs were originally authorized as part of a 2017 law that provided a massive expansion of gambling in Pennsylvania, including the creation of 10 new mini-casino licenses and a variety of online gambling options. The law gave each municipality the power to opt-out of allowing a mini-casino from being built within its jurisdiction, but municipalities were not given the same option with regards to VGTs.
Since 2017, more than 1,000 municipalities across the Commonwealth have adopted resolutions to prohibit the construction of a new casino within its borders – including all 60 municipalities in Lancaster County.
The legislation authored by Martin and Aument would only apply to Lancaster County, as well as any other county that meets certain population and other requirements.
CONTACT: Terry Trego (717) 787-6535 (Senator Martin)
Ryan Boop (717) 787-4420 (Senator Aument)