Pennsylvania step closer on slots

Leaders of the Pennsylvania Legislature said Wednesday that they had reached an agreement on a proposal to legalize slot machines at 14 sites in the state, including up to eight racetracks.

The proposal will need to be drafted into a law and then approved by both houses of the legislature and by Gov. Ed Rendell, a supporter of legalized slots. The Pennsylvania legislature is scheduled to recess on June 30.

The plan would legalize up to 37,000 slot machines at eight racetracks, four non-racing sites, and two resorts. Each track and non-racing site would be allowed up to 3,000 slot machines while the resort sites would be allotted 500 each.

Supporters have estimated that the operations could raise $1 billion for property-tax relief in the state.