PRESS RELEASE

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today approved three new grant requests totaling $200,444 to local law enforcement agencies to fund programs designed to thwart the operation of illegal slot machines in the Commonwealth.

This was the fourth round of approvals by the Board under a $5 million annual grant program developed and approved by the Legislature as part of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act. A total of $2,467,350.49 in grants has been awarded to local law enforcement agencies since the Board initiated the program in late 2007. The funding comes from revenues generated from licensed slot machine facilities.

“It is important to note that these grants are to be used only for the elimination of the illegal use of slot machines in the Commonwealth,” said Mary DiGiacomo Colins, Chairman of Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. “Any information circulating indicating that the use of this grant money or any enforcement efforts by this Board is targeted toward cracking down on small games of chance infractions at private clubs is simply incorrect.”

Grants approved today were:

• Bloomsburg Police Department in Columbia County – $39,000
• Hazleton City Police in Luzerne County – $72,000
• Upper St. Clair Police Department in Allegheny County – $89,444

The grants are to be used to enforce and prevent the unlawful operation of slot machines in the Commonwealth. Specifically, those entities approved can use the grants for:

1. Identification, Prevention and Deterrence: Grants may be awarded for the purpose of attending education and training events sponsored by authoritative agencies for the purpose of training officers, investigators or attorneys in techniques appropriate to the enforcement and prevention of the operation of unlawful slot machines in the Commonwealth. Grants may be awarded to conduct programs utilizing proven methods to attain deterrence or prevention of the illegal use of slot machines.
2. Prevention, Enforcement, Investigation and Prosecution: Grants may be awarded to defray costs related to assigning officers or investigators to prevent, deter, enforce or investigate the illegal use of slot machines. Grants may be awarded to defray the cost of prosecuting crimes involving the illegal use of slot machines.
3. Other Prevention and Enforcement Programs: Other programs that address prevention and enforcement of the use of illegal slot machines in the Commonwealth may be proposed.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is dedicated to protecting the financial interests of commonwealth citizens through the funding of local law enforcement efforts in identifying slot machines that make cash payouts but result in no tax revenue to the state.

Local law enforcement agencies are encouraged to apply for these grants which will be awarded to eligible applicants until funding is exhausted. A maximum of $250,000 can be sought by any single organization. Information and applications are available on the PGCB website at www.pgcb.state.pa.us.