A $15 million indoor polo arena and renovated horse barn is coming to a corner of the Fairmount Park forest. From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know! When gamblers are placing their bets this holiday season across Philadelphia casinos, they may not realize that a portion of gaming revenue is shared with nonprofits which then support public interest projects.
But that’s what the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, commonly known as the Pennsylvania Gaming Act that was signed into law two decades ago, requires. Each legal gaming operation within county limits across Pennsylvania — which in the case of Philadelphia is also within the city’s boundaries — sends a share of its revenue to the state, which then reallocates the money as grants. The local share for Philadelphia was $6 million this year, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development .
Inside that figure, a local youth horseback riding and polo game training nonprofit, Work to Ride , was awarded a $500,000 grant in late December. This grant helps ensure Philadelphia teenagers like Tajee McLaughlin have a place to go after school and on the weekends that’s safe and fun. It also means that the program can expand, reach more youth and operate year-round on a remote hill in Fairmount Park with a view of Center City Philadelphia that’s accessible by public transportation .
Not just horse play .
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