Pennsylvania Gaming Board approves table games at three casinos

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has been busy over the past couple of months. The Board has been holding public hearings in counties where casinos have asked permission to operate games such as blackjack, craps and roulette.

Already two casinos had been approved for the table games, and on Wednesday Sands Resort Bethlehem, Mount Airy Casino Resort and Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course were all approved for the new gambling tables.

"By the end of this year, Pennsylvania casinos should be well on their way to surpassing New Jersey casinos as the top gaming destinations in the Northeast," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz. "Table games will be key to putting the Pennsylvania casinos over the top."

Casinos in the state already have reached a milestone in regards to the Atlantic City casino industry. This past December, Pennsylvania casinos had higher slot revenue than Atlantic City casinos for the first time in history. That was followed by the news that lawmakers had legalized table games in January.

Other Northeastern states are not standing still watching Pennsylvania expand. New York and Maryland have expanded their gaming options, and Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine lawmakers are considering their options. Delaware legislators legalized sports betting last year.