PRESS RELEASE
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.
About the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is tasked to oversee all aspects of gambling involving 17 land-based casinos, online casino games, retail and online sports wagering, and Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs) at qualified truck stops, along with the regulation of online fantasy sports contests.
The land-based casino industry in Pennsylvania consists of six racetrack (Category 1) casinos, five stand-alone (Category 2) casinos, two resort (Category 3) casinos and four mini-casinos (Category 4). A significant job generator in the Commonwealth, casinos and the other types of Board-regulated gaming generated $2.8 billion in tax revenue and fees in 2024/25.
Additional information about both the PGCB’s gaming regulatory efforts and Pennsylvania’s gaming industry can be found at gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov.