Financial reports show that the groups who applied for state casino slots licenses sponsored part of Gov. Rendell reelection campaign. For example, Edward Rendell who applied in December for a casino license donated 22,500 dollars to the governor campaign. Another example is the 5,000 dollars donation given to Rendell by David W. Sweet, who later applied for a slot license in Limerick Township.
Even though those donations are legal, they still raise questions about ethics. Rendells spokesperson, Kate Philips, said that the governor was aware to this possibility but emphasized that those donations were legal, and did not come from people who involve in the gambling industry. She also noted that Rendell has no influence over who would receive a state casino license.
When gambling was legalized in July 2004, the lawmakers add a term to the law that forbids people who involve in gambling firms from donating money to political candidates. The law also forbids donations from firms who bids for casino licenses before the state gaming board. However, the law did not forbid from developers and investors to donate money before applying for slots license.
