Whether they were for it or against it, everyone who had a stake in a casino planned for the lower Hill District had the same initial reaction: They were glad a decision had been made.

Kim Ellis, who fought the plan to put a casino in the neighborhood, said she let out a sigh of relief that the neighborhood does not have to fight against the casino anymore.

The Rev. James Simms, who championed the Isle of Capri proposal to bring a casino and new multipurpose arena to the neighborhood, said he now plans to get back to his church and take care of his grandchildren.

Even Evan Frazier, the executive director of the Hill House, who maintained neutrality about the location of the slots parlor said, "There's a great sense of relief that the licensing decision-making process has finally come to a head. It was a long and arduous process."

Now that there is a decision, people in the Hill District are looking at how $350 million pledged by PITG Gaming can be spent to redevelop parts of the neighborhood.

Councilwoman Tonya Payne said Don Barden, who heads PITG Gaming, needs to make good on his promises for the Hill District.

"He said he was going to do it, so we're going to make sure he does it," she said.

In some areas of the community there was relief for the future of the Hill District.

"This neighborhood has been spared a lot of suffering," said Tom Smith, the pastor of Monumental Baptist Church. "The main thing for us was the protection of this community against the impact of gambling, the whole gambling industry."

Carl Redwood, who runs the Hill District Consensus Group, said he was happy that PITG Gaming had pledged to help redevelop the Hill District but the company has to "keep in mind that they have partners in the Hill who they need to work with."

Ms. Ellis said she was glad that the casino isn't going to abut the Hill District but she was also happy to see that the winner of the license was Mr. Barden's group.

"He sought to establish himself as a good corporate partner to the city and the Hill District and to address the Hill District's concerns," she said.

Rev. Simms said he knew as he sat in the auditorium in Harrisburg watching the state Gaming Control Board vote that the matter was out of his hands.

"I'm disappointed," he said about the decision. "But I trust the commission weighed all the factors and came to a decision they felt was best."