PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins are disappointed, and many of their fans are distraught, now that PITG Gaming has won a license to operae a slots casino on the North Shore.

The team was hoping Isle of Capri would win a slots license, guaranteeing a new arena and other new development in the Lower Hill District.

But for some others in that neighborhood, WTAE Channel 4 Action News reporter Bob Mayo says there is relief, because they never wanted the casino in the first place.

Hill District opponents of a building a slots casino next to a new arena fought hard in the final days leading up to the decision on Wednesday.

The Rev. Johnnie Monroe is glad to see the gambling will be on the North Shore and not on the edge of the Hill.

"It's bittersweet," Monroe said. "Number one, it's bitter because gambling is coming to Pittsburgh. It's sweet, at least, that it's not coming to this area because of the concern that the residents have over a gambling casino coming this close to a university and to a residential area."

Other Hill District residents were rooting for Isle of Capri, the Penguins' slots development partner.

"I'm really disappointed that it's going to the North Shore instead of right here," Dave Zemba said. "I thought it would have been great to have a new arena and a casino all under this same area here."

Brenda Tate, a Hill resident, said minority ownership of the slots license under PITG head Don Barden is a godsend.

"Now we're just going to have a major African-American business in this city, and that's the most impressive thing on this whole agenda," Tate said.

Barden committed to match Isle of Capri's plan to invest $350 million in Hill District neighborhood redevelopment.

"This is a promise that he has made. It's a promise that we expect he's going to keep," Monroe said. "But we also expect that he's going to work with the community in making sure that the state provides the kind of funding that is needed for persons who are addicted to gambling."

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