House Speaker John Perzel suggested the state Gaming Control Board would decide over the five bids for two casinos in Philadelphia.

House bill to prevent Philadelphia from having legal control over the two planned casinos was suggested by House Speaker John Perzel on Friday.

According to Perzel, the recent federal corruption motivated him to bar the city from making any decisions regarding gambling. The 2004 state gaming law banned any municipality from applying any legal control over each of the 14 state casino licenses to be built across the state. Last year the state Supreme Court approved law amendment that brought back local control over casinos.

Perzel said the state Gaming Control Board should have the right to decide over the five bids for two casinos in Philadelphia. He said he believes the board integrity is higher than the city public officials integrity. The Mayor Secretary for external affairs, George Burrell, said the city waits for the benefits from the share of taxes that would be taken by the city from the two planned casinos.