PA Gaming Control Board Announces Schedule Changes For Category 2 Licensing Hearings

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced changes to its schedule of Licensing Hearings for Category 2 operator applicants.

Executive Director Anne Neeb said the schedule remains largely the same, with the exception that the Category 2 At-Large hearings have been moved from November 6-7 to December 4-5. She noted that the new hearing schedule assists the public and media by avoiding the busy November 7th Election Day, but without altering the Board’s overall timetable for awarding licenses by the end of the year.

“These are minor changes to the Category 2 hearing schedule and most importantly permit us to remain on track to vote on all permanent licenses on December 20th,” Neeb added.

In addition, the hearing for Crossroads Gaming Resort and Spa LP has been grouped within the same two-day block as the hearings for the four other Category 2 At-Large applicants. There are also some minor changes to the start times of the Category 2 hearings for the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh applicants.

Licensing hearings for the Category 3 resort applicants are still scheduled for October 25th. The location remains the same for all hearings: the State Museum Auditorium on Third and North streets in Harrisburg.

Category 2 – Philadelphia

Monday, November 13 – beginning at 12:30 p.m.

    • HSP Gaming, LP
    • Riverwalk Casino, LP

Tuesday, November 14 – beginning at 9:00 a.m.

    • Philadelphia Entertainment and Development Partners, LP
    • Keystone Redevelopment Partners, LLC

Wednesday, November 15 – beginning at 9:00 a.m.

    • Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.

Category 2 – Pittsburgh

Monday, November 20 – beginning at 9:00 a.m.

    • Station Square Gaming, LP
    • Isle of Capri

Tuesday, November 21 – beginning at 9:00 a.m.

    • PITG Gaming, LLC

Category 2 - At-Large

Monday, December 4 - beginning at 8:30 am

    • Tropicana Pennsylvania, LLC
    • Sands Bethworks Gaming, LLC

Tuesday, December 5 - beginning at 8:30 am

    • Pocono Manor Investors, LP
    • Mt. Airy #1, LLC
    • Crossroads Gaming Resort & Spa, LP

In addition to the changes in the Category 2 hearing schedule, the Board announced that licensing hearings for the permanent Category 1 applicants have been moved to December 13 beginning at 11:30 a.m. The applicants will be:

    • Washington Trotting Association, Inc.
    • Presque Isle Downs, Inc.
    • Downs Racing, L.P.
    • Chester Downs and Marina, LLC
    • Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association
    • Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment, Inc.

Licensing hearings were previously held for the conditional Category 1 applicants for existing horse race tracks, and the Board approved five licenses at its September 27, 2006 meeting. The hearings for the Category 2 applicants will provide the Board with an opportunity to hear directly from the applicants on both their suitability to gain licensure and why their project will be a better location over other Category 2 applicants. In turn, the Board will question applicants about their character, operational and financial suitability, community impact, diversity plans, plans for the prevention of compulsive gaming, and other issues.