CAMP HILL, Pa. -- The owners of Penn National Racetrack's Hollywood casino near here have almost nothing in common with the United Methodist Church, but the sacred and secular were in rare agreement Monday about one thing: They both strongly urged the state Gaming Control Board not to grant a gambling license to a modest Holiday Inn five miles west of Harrisburg.

Developers want to turn the Holiday Inn into a "resort casino" that would cater, in large part, to drivers of recreational vehicle who are looking for things to do in central Pennsylvania.

"Pennsylvania doesn't need any more casinos," Stephen Drachler, United Methodist advocacy director, told the board at a public input hearing.

"More casinos will equal more addiction. More addiction will hurt families. No matter where you place another casino, the problem will not be solved," he said. "How many children are being endangered by parents who have been caught up in gambling addictions because of the proximity of so many casinos in Pennsylvania?"

Penn National has its own self-interest to protect. Its 2-year-old Hollywood casino is located about 20 miles east of Harrisburg (and about 25 miles from the Holiday Inn site).

The Hollywood gambling hall is one of Pennsylvania's nine (soon to be 10) full-sized casinos and as such, can have up to 5,000 slot machines and 250 table games. That is much larger than the Penn Harris Gaming group's proposal for a resort casino at the Holiday Inn, which would be limited to 600 slots and 50 table games.

Penn National officials said they oppose even a much smaller casino so near to theirs, fearing it will siphon off some customers. The proximity of the two casinos also would hold down the amount of revenue the state gets to lower property taxes, generate economic development and bolster the state budget, Penn National contended.

The proximity "is clearly contrary to the intention of Pennsylvania's gaming legislation -- which is intended to maximize the tax contributions from gaming operators," Penn National said in a statement.

Penn National also charged that the Holiday Inn doesn't have enough "amenities," such as a golf course, to qualify as a resort, and thus doesn't comply with state law. Penn National contends that in order to get a license, a resort casino must have at least 275 rooms, while the Holiday Inn has only 239 rooms.

Casino backers said they will make up the difference by bringing in 36 recreational vehicles, which they want the Gaming Board to consider the same as hotel rooms. Opponents said the board should not count RVs as hotel rooms.

The $75 million Holiday Inn project is proposed by Atlantic City, N.J., lawyers John Donnelly and Michael Sklar, along with the CMS Companies, which owns many hotels and apartment buildings around the nation.

It is one of four applications for the second and final resort hotel casino license, which the Gaming Board will award by year's end. The other competitors are a hotel/convention center south of Gettysburg; the Nemacolin Woodlands resort in Fayette county; and the Fernwoods resort in the Poconos.

Nemacolin will have its public hearing on Sept. 8.

Penn National, which operates several racetrack/casinos and stand-along casinos in various states, has agreed to operate the Gettysburg casino if that project gets the resort license.

The Gettysburg casino will have its public hearing Tuesday, with more than 400 individuals and community groups signed up to speak. It is expected to last for hours and will be televised live on the Pennsylvania Cable Network, starting at 10 a.m.

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