http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/local/8709860.htm**********************************************************************
Nothing's in writing, and there's still potential for the deal to break down.
But key figures in Harrisburg indicated yesterday that they've reached a basic agreement on legalizing slot machines in Pennsylvania - a deal that is likely to put two major slot franchises in Center City Philadelphia.
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"They haven't gotten down to the details yet and the devil's in the details," said Gary Tuma, a spokesman for state Sen. Vincent Fumo. "But there's a commitment among the lead people in each caucus to sit down and hammer it out."
The tentative settlement calls for slot machines to be permitted at up to 15 locations throughout the state:
• Four slot licenses to the state's current thoroughbred and harness-racing tracks, including Philadelphia Park in Bensalem.
• Two slot franchises for new racetracks in Chester and Erie, already approved by the state racing commissions.
• One or two more slot licenses for various consortiums that are hoping to get racing licenses, at locations still to be decided by state racing authorities.
• Four or five slot franchises at non-racing locations, including two in Philadelphia and one for the Pittsburgh area, depending on what happens with several pending racetrack proposals in western Pennsylvania.
• Two smaller "resort" licenses permitting slot machines at a couple of Pennsylvania vacation spots - probably in southwestern Pennsylvania and the Poconos.
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