PRESS RELEASE

HARRISBURG: At its regular meeting yesterday, Board Chairman Tad Decker announced that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has scheduled a public hearing on March 27th to gather input as it prepares to open the application period for Category 3 slot operator licenses designated for resort hotels.

The hearing will take place during the Board’s scheduled meeting of that day and information will be gathered from both the legislature and potential Category 3 applicants. The meeting will begin at 10:00 am in Hearing Room 1 of the North Office Building in Harrisburg.

Chairman Decker said the expectation is to open a second round of applications for these two available licenses within the next month. However, he said it is important that applicants are fully aware of the legislative intent for this class of license and for the Board to gage what possible changes to its current regulations may be necessary to make ownership of a Category license more practicable.

“The Board wants to hear and be able to question resort owners and representatives of the State Legislature before entering again into the Category 3 licensing and hearing process,” Decker said. “While the Board had two very good applicants last year, both pulled out of consideration for various reasons and we want to make sure that does not occur again.”

Two resorts applied for the licenses last year, Seven Springs in Somerset County and Nemacolin Woodlands in Fayette County.

Decker added that the public will also have ample opportunity to weigh in on any Category 3 applications since all public input hearings must be held in the municipality where the facility would be located.

Facilities located in Pennsylvania that could qualify for Category 3 license must be a well-established resort hotel with no fewer than 275 guest rooms under common ownership, substantial year-round recreational guest amenities, and cannot be located within 15 linear miles of any other licensed slot machine casino.

Any potential applicant who is interested in testifying should contact Steve Cook, Deputy Chief Counsel at 717-346-8320.

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