Pa. receives no bids for sixth mini-casino license

State lawmakers approved the creation of mini-casinos in 2017 as a way to balance the state budget. Up to 10 mini-casino licenses were available.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board received no bids for the right to a sixth mini-casino license. Bid and location boxes are seen before the start of the board's meeting on Sept. 4, 2019, in Harrisburg. (Ed Mahon/PA Post)

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board received no bids for the right to a sixth mini-casino license. Bid and location boxes are seen before the start of the board's meeting on Sept. 4, 2019, in Harrisburg. (Ed Mahon/PA Post)

This article originally appeared on PA Post.

It looks like Pennsylvania will have no more than five mini-casinos for the foreseeable future.

Last year, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board successfully auctioned of mini-casino license rights five times and raised $127 million. Those smaller casinos can offer up to 750 slot machines and eventually up to 40 table games.

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On Wednesday morning, the board held one last auction for the right to apply for a mini-casino license in Pennsylvania.

Officials put out two boxes: one wrapped in yellow paper to collect bids, and another wrapped in red to collect names of locations bidders wanted to open the mini-casino.

But no one added any envelopes to the boxes.

Earlier, a spokesman for the House Republican Caucus said lawmakers wanted the board to host another auction to see if there was any interest, and if not, to formally end the mini-casino process.

State lawmakers approved the creation of mini-casinos in 2017 as a way to balance the state budget. Up to 10 mini-casino licenses were available.

Doug Harbach, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, said no more auctions will take place without a change in state law.

Mini-casino plans in Berks and Westmoreland counties are the furthest along in the process and could open next year. Other mini-casinos are planned for Cumberland, Beaver and York counties.

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