The Pittsburgh Casino Mess

I remember being shocked when Don Barden's North Shore casino bid won the nod from the Pennsylvania Gaming Board over the Isle of Capri group. Something just didn't feel right to me about his come out of nowhere win. Well, things are definitely not right with the project now, with construction on hold due to financing woes - on a casino that Barden originally told the state he would have up and running by early 2008! And now we learn that Pennsylvania taxpayers will have to cover the casino's $225 million share of the new Penguins arena if the casino falls through - not exactly the arena deal we were promised. The State Gaming Control Board meets on Thursday to hopefully make a decision about the latest proposal to accept billionaire Neil Bluhm as the new owner of the casino. Seems like everyone has been dragging their heels on this one...