HARRISBURG, PA: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today reported that slot machine revenue in May was $ 205.5 million, the fourth highest month for slot revenue recorded in Pennsylvania since the opening of casinos in 2006. May 2011 was topped only by March 2011 with $214.9 million, April 2011 with $211.4 million and July 2010 with $211.1 million.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today released the fourth annual Pari-Mutuel Wagering Benchmark Report which shows a clear positive trend on the impact of slot machine play on the Commonwealth's horse racing industry.

The report draws comparisons on the status of pari-mutuel wagering over the five years since slot machine gaming began including its impact on the various indicators of pari-mutuel health for the years 2006-2010.

Highlights of the report include:

HARRISBURG: The Chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today said a report released by the 31st Investigating Statewide Grand Jury critical of the early practices of the Board is simply a rehash of “old news” at a significant cost to taxpayers.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today publicly released on its web site the order and adjudication that contain the reasons for its decision to grant a Category 3 slot machine license Woodlands Fayette, LLC, operators of the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Wharton Township, Fayette County.

HARRISBURG, PA: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today posted on its web site the revenue figures for April table games play at the ten operating casinos.

Table games produced $52,886,879 in gross revenue in April generating $8,465,611 in tax revenue. Pennsylvania has a 16% tax rate on gross table game revenue with 14% going to the Commonwealth’s General Fund and 2% to the local host county and municipality.

HARRISBURG, PA: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced a hearing will be held on Thursday, June 16, 2011 to gather evidence, including public comment, on the renewal of the slot machine operators’ license for the SugarHouse Casino.

The hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. on that date in Room 119 A/B of the Pennsylvania Convention Center located at 1101 Arch Street in Philadelphia.

HARRISBURG, PA:  In just three years, Pennsylvania ascended to number one in the amount of tax revenues generated by commercial casinos that offer legalized slot machines and table games.

Now, after the fourth full year of offering gaming at commercial casinos, Pennsylvania not only remained number one, but further increased the amount of tax revenue collected, according to an annual report released by the leading gaming association in the United States.

HARRISBURG, PA: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today reported that slot machine revenue in April of this year rose more than 8% over April of 2010.

The play of slot machines at the ten operating casinos produced $211,390,229 in gross revenue in April 2011 compared to $195,253,067 during April of last year, an increase of 8.3%.  That resulted in a return of $115,406,797 in taxes to Pennsylvania citizens in this past month, an average of $3.84 million of taxes collected per day from the 55% assessment on slot machine revenue.

HARRISBURG, PA: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today approved requests by Valley Forge Convention Center Partners, LP that allows its Category 3 casino project to move forward.

The Board received testimony from representatives of the proposed Montgomery County resort casino at its Thursday public meeting and later granted approval to two petitions, one on a revised master site plan and a second that permits a corporate restructuring.

HARRISBURG, PA: The Chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today reminded patrons who gamble at a Commonwealth casino that help is available in understanding the rules of games that will permit them to play wisely and responsibly.