HARRISBURG -- Gov. Ed Rendell said today he hopes to get table games "up and running in as many casinos as possible by July."

He made his comments after he signed Senate Bill 711, which allows slots casinos to add blackjack, poker, roulette and dice, even though he didn't like all aspects of the bill.

It is expected to take six to nine months for casinos to hire and train employees who will work at table games and for the state to issue new regulations governing this form of gambling.

Mr. Rendell did say he has some "misgivings" about the bill, which he said "is laden with WAMs and pork," meaning special grants to some favorite items of legislators, such as community colleges, hospitals and libraries.

"That's not the way to run a railroad," he said. He also didn't like the fact that patrons in Philadelphia casinos will be allowed to smoke, even though the city has a law banning smoking in public buildings.

But he signed the bill because it will produce $250 million to balance the current state budget, and avoid the need to lay off 1,000 state workers as well as cut important programs in education, housing and arts grants and health insurance.

The bill takes effect immediately, and gives two competing resorts 90 days to submit their applications for one remaining resort casino license to the state Gaming Control Board. Nemacolin Woodlands, a Fayette County resort, and the Mason/Dixon Resort Hotel near Gettysburg, said they will do so, in hopes of getting the last state license for a resort casino, which can have up to 600 slots and 50 table games.

Nemacolin also announced today it will partner with Isle of Capri Inc., which would manage the casino if it wins the license. Isle of Capri previously was a partner with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the hockey team's unsuccessful bid to win a license for a full casino.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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