The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a preliminary injunction Friday that forbids a controversial casino referendum question from being placed on the May 15 ballot.
The court also asked both sides - the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and Philadelphia City Council - to file briefs by April 27 and will likely issue a filing ruling before the May primary.
The casino debate has seen several legal moves from both sides, but the preliminary injunction could provide a huge blow to casino opponents' cause.
Led be Councilman Frank DiCicco, the City Council had originally voted unanimously to place the referendum, which would restrict casinos from being built within 1,500 feet of homes, schools or houses of worship, on the primary ballot.
Mayor John Street vetoed the bill on grounds that the referendum would illegally supersede state law, but the Council overrode the veto.
Attorneys for the Control Board argued on similar grounds in the Supreme Court hearing, and the court agreed by a 5-2 vote.
But if, as expected, the Court rules to ban the referendum for good, the fight against casinos in Philadelphia would likely go on.
DiCicco has proposed several city ordinances in City Council that would restrict casino sites, and the state Supreme Court is also in the midst of considering five separate appeals that would re-open the bidding process.
The two proposed casinos - SugarHouse and Foxwoods - were awarded licenses in December by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, beating out three other proposed casinos in Philadelphia.
SugarHouse would be located in the Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood of Fishtown, near the Delaware River on Columbus Boulevard, while Foxwoods would anchor South Philadelphia's stretch of the Delaware riverfront.
The casinos, which will only contain slot machines, were two of five licenses awarded statewide in an effort spurred by Gov. Ed Rendell to lower property taxes through gambling revenue.
It is hoped that Philadelphia's pair will propel development along the waterfront and bring jobs and economic growth to the city.
But anti-casino activists have long contended that bringing casinos into the city - especially in congested sections along the Delaware waterfront - will bring both traffic problems and social ills to the area.
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