Pennsylvania Board Holds Licensing Hearing

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will hold Licensing Hearings on the six applications it received for conditional Category 1 gaming licenses in Harrisburg on Aug. 7-9, 2006, Chairman Tad Decker said today.

The hearings, which will be open to the public, will take place in the Auditorium of the State Museum Building, 3rd and North streets, Decker said. A complete schedule of hearings will be announced when completed. Details of Licensing Hearings for Category 2, Category 3 and permanent Category 1 licenses, which will be held later in the year, will also be announced when details are completed, he added.

"After the success of our public-input hearings, the licensing hearings mark the beginning of a new, key phase of the application-review process, one in which Board members will take an active role in questioning applicants on issues related to their suitability for licensure," Decker said.

The six Category 1 applicants and the locations of their proposed facilities are:

* Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment, Inc.; Bensalem

* Chester Downs and Marina, LLC; Chester

* Presque Isle Downs, Inc.; Erie

* Washington Trotting Association, Inc.; Meadowlands

* Downs Racing, L.P.; Wilkes-Barre

* Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association; Grantville, Pennsylvania

Under Act 71 of 2004, the Gaming Control Board is authorized to award 14 slot-machine gaming licenses to facilities across Pennsylvania. Seven Category 1 licenses are authorized for horse-race tracks; five Category 2 licenses are authorized for standalone slots facilities - two in Philadelphia, one in Pittsburgh and two at tourism-enhanced locations across the state; and two Category 3 licenses are authorized for existing resorts.

The Gaming Control Board is considering 22 applications for the 14 licenses - six for Category 1 licenses; 14 for Category 2 licenses, including five in Philadelphia, three in Pittsburgh and six for tourism-enhanced locations; and two for Category 3 licenses.

The Board expects to act on conditional Category 1 license applications in September 2006, and on Category 2, Category 3 and permanent Category applications in December 2006.

Separately, the Gaming Control Board today unanimously approved regulations governing the Licensing Hearings. Those regulations are available on the Board's Web site, http://www.pgcb.state.pa.us. Click on "Regulations" and

2006-06-16