PRESS RELEASE

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced that it has posted on its Web site downloadable application forms for companies and people interested in obtaining conditional licenses to operate Category 1 gaming facilities.

The deadline for returning completed applications to the Board is Oct. 31, 2005.

Applications, instructions for their proper preparation and a fee schedule are available only at www.pgcb.state.pa.us. Please click on "Licensure" and "Applications" to reach the conditional category 1 applications and filing instructions.

Act 71 of 2004, which authorized expanded gaming and created the Board, permits the issuance of seven Category 1 operating licenses, which must be associated with either a licensed thoroughbred-racing track or a licensed harness-racing track. A track operator may pursue a conditional Category 1 license that allows the operator to begin gaming operations before the applicant is fully compliant with all of Act 71's licensing requirements. The operator must, however, become fully compliant with those requirements before the conditional license becomes a permanent Category 1 license.

The Gaming Control Board has not set a date for acting on any conditional Category 1 applications it receives.

The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission has issued thoroughbred-racing licenses to three facilities that will be eligible to apply for either form of Category 1 gaming license. The Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission has also licensed three facilities that will be eligible. The final gaming-eligible license will be issued by the Harness Racing Commission.