Citizens Call on PNC Bank to Lead the Way: Don't Lend to Neil Bluhm's Casino

Action is Kick Off for the New 'In the Red' Campaign

For Immediate Release

Citizens opposed to predatory casinos proposed for Philadelphia will kick-off their newest campaign, In the Red, at the headquarters of PNC Bank on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 9 AM. Later that afternoon, the PA Gaming Control Board is expected to rubber-stamp the latest request of Chicago casino developer Neil Bluhm, to approve his risky lending package for the proposed SugarHouse casino on Philadelphia's historic riverfront. Details of the lending package have not been released by the board or Bluhm.

It is rumored that PNC Bank has lent Bluhm $15 million to help close the gap in financing he needs for the vastly scaled down project, which if built would consist of a large box surrounded by dozens of acres of surface parking.

Casino-Free Philadelphia's In the Red campaign aims to persuade casino investors Neil G. Bluhm (of SugarHouse) and Ronald Rubin (of Foxwoods) to abandon their plans for casinos in Philadelphia.

The campaign involves personalized actions designed to educate the public about how their two casinos, if not stopped, will inflict financial damage to families, communities, local businesses and our city budget. More and more people are waking up to what Bluhm’s and Rubin’s casinos truly would be: Part of a financially tanking predatory trade based on addiction that peddles false hope to those in desperate need.

With continuing pressure from citizens, through our In the Red campaign, Mr. Bluhm’s and Mr. Rubin’s involvement will be exposed as predatory, and the casinos they propose for Philadelphia will be driven out.

Casino-Free Philadelphia's mission is to stop casinos from coming to Philadelphia and close any that open. The benefits of casinos can never outweigh the social and economic costs from an industry reliant on addiction to survive. Visit us online at www.CasinoFreePhila.org.

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