Expect to temporarily slum it, Western Pennsylvania gamblers. Nearly 30 months after slots casinos were legalized in Pennsylvania, significant progress came last week to finally bring one of those glitzy cash cows to Pittsburgh. Isle of Capri and the city Urban Redevelopment Authority announced a landmark deal in which the casino chain would open a temporary casino in the parking lots above Mellon Arena -- provided it gets the city's sole slots license, expected to be awarded next month. The temporary casino would be in place until the glitzy cash cow is fully moo-capable. Or, to put it in less bovine terms, until a permanent casino opens on the site of many Fifth Avenue parking lots -- lots desperately needed for arena parking if a temporary casino consumes most existing area spaces. (Be forewarned: For a few years, while all of this sorts itself out, those attending an arena concert or Penguins game might well find the closest available parking space in Swissvale.) Though plans for the temporary casino have not been detailed, since Isle of Capri hasn't been awarded the license, don't expect it to have anything close to the bells and whistles of a permanent one. What follows is a comparison of what is found at Isle of Capri casinos in other markets, and a guess as to what local gamblers might endure in a temporary Isle of Capri casino near the arena: Building construction materials Permanent casino: Concrete, bricks, steel, etc. Temporary casino: Plywood, corrugated tin, heavy-duty staples. Lobby attractions Permanent casino: Rock sculptures, cascading fountains illuminated by multicolored lights, towering palms, spectacular skylights. Temporary casino: A sheet nailed to a plywood doorway near a cardboard sign on which the words "slots parlor" and a directional arrow have been scrawled in Magic Marker. Number of slot machines Permanent casino: 3,000 to 5,000 Temporary casino: 12 (expect long lines during peak operating hours.) Dining options Permanent casino: Calypso's Buffet, Tradewinds Deli, Tiki Island Sushi Bar, Bragozzo Wine Bar, and Farraday's Steak and Seafood restaurant. Temporary casino: Honor-system snack box featuring peanuts, potato chips and ramen noodles in Styrofoam cups (avoid those, as the casino, unfortunately, has no microwave). Security Permanent casino: A number of roving guards and surveillance cameras. Temporary casino: A lone septuagenarian thumbing through the latest AARP newsletter while sitting in a plastic chair just inside the entrance. Convenient accommodations Permanent casino: On-site hotel featuring Caribbean decor, luxury suites and day spa. Temporary casino: None, really, but for the right price you might find students willing to sublet nearby Duquesne University dorm rooms.

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