Foxwoods' appeal rejected

After Foxwoods' appeal rejected, 2d Philadelphia gaming license now in Assembly's hands
By Suzette Parmley
Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: Sun, Apr. 1, 2012

Now that the state Supreme Court has shot down Foxwoods' final appeal of the revocation of its casino license, the chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board says it is up to the legislature to put that license for a second Philadelphia casino out to bid statewide.

"As far as rebidding out, the General Assembly has some interest to expand the appropriate area to other parts of the state," William H. Ryan Jr. said Saturday. "It will be up to the General Assembly on how to proceed on this. We will give it as much time as it needs."

Ryan made the remarks after presenting Ira Lubert, chairman of the Valley Forge Casino Resort, a framed gaming license to commemorate that casino's opening in Upper Merion.

Late Friday, the high court upheld the gaming board's December 2010 decision to revoke Foxwoods' $50 million license after repeated delays in building the South Philadelphia gambling hall. In November, a Commonwealth Court panel came to the same conclusion.

Though a measure has been introduced in Harrisburg to put the revoked license out to bid, lawmakers said they were waiting for the court challenges to be decided before moving forward.

The investor group behind Foxwoods, Philadelphia Entertainment & Development Partners L.P., includes three high-profile friends of former Gov. Ed Rendell: businessman Lewis Katz, Center City developer Ron Rubin, and Comcast-Spectacor chairman Edward M. Snider. (Katz is part of a local investor group expected to buy Philadelphia Media Network Inc., parent of The Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly.com.)

"I think it's over," Ryan said when asked whether Foxwoods had exhausted its appeals.