Robbins Hails Creation of Gaming Investigations Unit

Co-sponsored legislation to grant authority to Attorney General

Recognizing last year that gaming was coming to Pennsylvania, Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) pushed for legislation to give the Attorney General new powers to ensure oversight of Pennsylvania's casinos and gambling regulatory process.

Using the powers granted by Act 135 of 2006, which was co-sponsored by Senator Robbins, and $700,000 in state funding, Attorney General Tom Corbett is creating a gambling investigations unit to investigate and prosecute gambling-related crimes and ensure that Pennsylvania's anti-racketeering laws are applied to violations of the 2004 slots act.

"While I opposed bringing slot machines to Pennsylvania, we absolutely must fight the corruption that comes with it," said Senator Robbins. "That's why I strongly supported the legislation to establish a Gaming Unit within the Office of Attorney General to investigate and prosecute criminal activity associated with gaming."

Act 135 included a number of reforms to Pennsylvania's Gaming Law including:

Eliminated the provision allowing public officials to hold a financial interest in a gaming license.
Established a Code of Conduct for the Gaming Control Board.
Ensures that the PA Gaming Control Board is subject to the Right-to-Know Act, the Sunshine Law, and other open-government laws.
Requires employment practices to follow those of other state agencies, including the requirement that background checks be completed before employment.

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322