1102 - Legislative intent.
§ 1102. Legislative intent. The General Assembly recognizes the following public policy purposes and declares that the following objectives of the Commonwealth are to be served by this part: (1) The primary objective of this part to which all other objectives and purposes are secondary is to protect the public through the regulation and policing of all activities involving gaming and practices that continue to be unlawful. (2) The authorization of limited gaming by the installation and operation of slot machines as authorized in this part is intended to enhance live horse racing, breeding programs, entertainment and employment in this Commonwealth. (2.1) The authorization of table games in this part is intended to supplement slot machine gaming by increasing revenues to the Commonwealth and providing new employment opportunities by creating skilled jobs for individuals related to the conduct of table games at licensed facilities in this Commonwealth. (3) The authorization of limited gaming is intended to provide a significant source of new revenue to the Commonwealth to support property tax relief, wage tax reduction, economic development opportunities and other similar initiatives. (4) The authorization of limited gaming is intended to positively assist the Commonwealth's horse racing industry, support programs intended to foster and promote horse breeding and improve the living and working conditions of personnel who work and reside in and around the stable and backside areas of racetracks. (5) The authorization of limited gaming is intended to provide broad economic opportunities to the citizens of this Commonwealth and shall be implemented in such a manner as to prevent possible monopolization by establishing reasonable restrictions on the control of multiple licensed gaming facilities in this Commonwealth. (6) The authorization of limited gaming is intended to enhance the further development of the tourism market throughout this Commonwealth, including, but not limited to, year-round recreational and tourism locations in this Commonwealth. (7) Participation in limited gaming authorized under this part by any licensee or permittee shall be deemed a privilege, conditioned upon the proper and continued qualification of the licensee or permittee and upon the discharge of the affirmative responsibility of each licensee to provide the regulatory and investigatory authorities of the Commonwealth with assistance and information necessary to assure that the policies declared by this part are achieved. (8) Strictly monitored and enforced control over all limited gaming authorized by this part shall be provided through regulation, licensing and appropriate enforcement actions of specified locations, persons, associations, practices, activities, licensees and permittees. (9) Strict financial monitoring and controls shall be established and enforced by all licensees or permittees. (10) The public interest of the citizens of this Commonwealth and the social effect of gaming shall be taken into consideration in any decision or order made pursuant to this part. (10.1) The General Assembly has a compelling interest in protecting the integrity of both the electoral process and the legislative process by preventing corruption and the appearance of corruption which may arise through permitting any type of political campaign contributions by certain persons involved in the gaming industry and regulated under this part. (10.2) Banning all types of political campaign contributions by certain persons subject to this part is necessary to prevent corruption and the appearance of corruption that may arise when political campaign contributions and gaming regulated under this part are intermingled. (11) It is necessary to maintain the integrity of the regulatory control and legislative oversight over the operation and play of slot machines and table games in this Commonwealth; to ensure the bipartisan administration of this part; and avoid actions that may erode public confidence in the system of representative government. (12) It is the intent of the General Assembly to authorize the operation and play of slot machines and table games under a single slot machine license issued to a slot machine licensee under this part. (13) The authorization of limited gaming in this Commonwealth requires the Commonwealth to take steps to increase awareness of compulsive and problem gambling and to develop and implement effective strategies for prevention, assessment and treatment of this behavioral disorder. (14) Research indicates that for some individuals compulsive and problem gambling and drug and alcohol addiction are related. Therefore, the General Assembly intends to establish an approach to compulsive and problem gambling prevention, assessment and treatment that will ensure the provision of adequate resources to identify, assess and treat both compulsive and problem gambling and drug and alcohol addiction. (Jan. 7, 2010, P.L.1, No.1, eff. imd.) 2010 Amendment. Act 1 amended par. (11) and added pars. (2.1), (10.1), (10.2), (12), (13) and (14).