HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced that it would hold a hearing on Wednesday, February 3rd to gather evidence, including public comment, on the renewal of the Category 2 slot machine operator’s license of Sands Bethworks Gaming, LLC, operators of the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

The hearing will begin at 10:00 am at the Town Hall, 10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

HARRISBURG, PA: Even with a five-day closure of Pennsylvania’s largest slots revenue producer, figures released today by the Gaming Control Board show growth in revenue among all key measurements at the Commonwealth’s casinos.

With the opening of two more casinos during 2009, nine slot machine facilities now operate in Pennsylvania. Together, those casinos generated a combined $155,048,230 in gross revenue this December, a 28.14% increase over revenue generated by legalized gaming in December of 2008.

HARRISBURG, PA: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has approved a consent agreement that assesses an Australian slot machine manufacturer a fine of $13,200 for failing to file a timely renewal application for its manufacturer license.

HARRISBURG, PA: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today approved two consent agreements for separate violations that fines Washington Trotting Association, Inc., operators of The Meadows Racetrack and Casino, a total of $10,000.

The fines, for $5,000 each, were the results of two incidents, both occurring in August 2009, at the Washington County casino. One was for permitting an underage patron to gamble while the other was for allowing an individual on the statewide Self-Exclusion List to obtain a player’s club card.

HARRISBURG: Kenneth I. Trujillo was sworn in as the newest member of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board during its regular meeting held Wednesday in Harrisburg.

Named to the Board by Governor Edward G. Rendell on November 25, 2009 to replace original Board member Sanford Rivers, Trujillo took his oath of office from Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina.

HARRISBURG, PA: Pennsylvania’s nine slot machine casinos generated a combined $166,293,583 in gross revenue this November, a 26.73% increase over revenue generated by legalized gaming in November of 2008.

HARRISBURG, PA: A $24,000 fine was levied today by the Commonwealth’s gaming oversight agency on a south central Pennsylvania casino operator for three separate violations dealing with underage gambling.

HARRISBURG, PA: The one-thousandth request to be registered with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s successful voluntary Self-Exclusion Program has been received.

The Self Exclusion Program, which began in late 2006, assists problem gamblers who choose to ban themselves from gambling at Pennsylvania casinos. Once a person is placed on the Self-Exclusion List, gaming facilities in the Commonwealth must:

HARRISBURG, PA: Former Chair of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Mary DiGiacomo Colins, has received the “Special Recognition Award” from the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania. The award was made yesterday in Harrisburg during the statewide organization’s “Problem Gambling & the Law Conference.”

HARRISBURG, PA: The amount of gross revenue generated in October 2009 through the play of slot machines at nine casinos rose 31.97% over the previous year, according to figures released today by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.