Now that the casino has opened, the group plans to have volunteers regularly patrol the area in search of problems such as alcohol violations or kids being left in cars while their parents gamble - in hopes of shutting down SugarHouse, said group spokesman Dan Hajdo.

The mural was drawn by children who live in the neighborhood and included images of gardens and playgrounds. Members gathered outside SugarHouse before the grand opening and unveiled a mural depicting how they think the waterfront should look - without a casino. The grass-roots group Casino-Free Philadelphia held an opening day protest and plans more as it tries to hurt business at the facility in the city's Fishtown/Northern Liberties neighborhood. 'The public has to understand that these delays were not the result of the developer getting cold feet.' 'There was a lot of litigation in Philadelphia that we did not have in other parts of the state,' Fajt said. The casino conducted test runs of the games on Monday and Wednesday, with the proceeds going to charity, before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board gave it permission to open. Lawmakers and officials, in brief remarks before the opening, praised the creation of some 900 jobs and other economic benefits that came with the project. 'SugarHouse is the place to be in Philadelphia,' said general manager Wendy Hamilton. (Photo by KYW's Mike DeNardo)Ī string band entertained and Benjamin Franklin lookalike Ralph Archbold - led by a fife-and-drum corps and flanked by two showgirls clad in feathers and sequins - presented executives with a ceremonial key to the casino. They waited in the heat more than an hour, some chanting 'Let us in,' before the doors opened and they got a chance to play among the 1,600 slot machines and 40 table games. SugarHouse Casino drew a raucous crowd of well over a thousand people to the Delaware River waterfront. PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Philadelphia took the title Thursday of largest US city with a casino when Pennsylvania's 10th gambling hall opened despite years of community protests and delays.

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