FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 16th, 2006

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
Commonwealth Tower, Strawberry Square
303 Walnut Street, 5th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101

CONTACT

Doug Harbach or Richard McGarvey (717) 346-8321

PA Gaming Control Board Announces Schedule of Conditional Category 1 Licensing Hearings

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced the schedule of Licensing Hearings on the six applications it received for conditional Category 1 gaming licenses.

The hearings, which will be open to the public, will take place in Harrisburg on Aug. 7-9, 2006, in the Auditorium of the State Museum Building, 3rd and North streets. The order of hearings was randomly chosen.

The times and dates of the hearings are:

Monday Aug. 7

    * 2 p.m. - Washington Trotting Association, Inc. (Meadowlands)

Tuesday Aug. 8

    * 9 a.m. - Presque Isle Downs, Inc. (Erie)
    * 12:30 p.m. - Downs Racing, L.P. (Wilkes-Barre)
    * 3 p.m. - Chester Downs and Marina, LLC (Chester)

Wednesday Aug. 9

    * 9 a.m. - Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association (Grantville)
    * 12:30 p.m. - Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment, Inc. (Bensalem)

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.