HARRISBURG: A new brochure that can help people assess their personal gambling behavior and determine if they should seek help is now available on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's website.

Your First Step to Change is a guide that can be used by individuals who are unable or unwilling to speak with either a trained counselor or recovering problem gambler involved in a 12-step program, according to Nanette Horner, the Director of the Board's Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Thursday responded in defense of legal challenges to its December 20, 2006 licensing decisions for stand alone slots facilities which awarded licenses to PITG Majestic Star in Pittsburgh; HSP and Foxwoods in Philadelphia; Sands Bethworks in Bethlehem and Mt. Airy Lodge in the Poconos. A total of three briefs were delivered to the State Supreme Court and are available for download at www.pgcb.state.pa.us.

Funds available to prevent the unlawful operation of slot machines

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced that local law enforcement agencies will soon be able to apply for grants to enforce and prevent the unlawful operation of slot machines.

The grant program was developed and approved by the Legislature as part of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act and funded with $5 million annually from money generated from slot machine facilities.

HARRISBURG: Top management from Pennsylvania horse race tracks told the Gaming Control Board today that the success of legalized slots machine gaming is already paying tremendous dividends toward reinvigorating the Commonwealth’s horse racing industry.

HARRISBURG: More than 50 persons have requested to take advantage of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's new Self-Exclusion Program.

Since the introduction of the Self-Exclusion Program late last year, 52 people with gambling problems have voluntarily requested to be excluded from all gaming activities at all licensed facilities within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for one year, five years or a lifetime. Once a person is placed on the list, licensed Pennsylvania gaming facilities must:

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced today that its next meeting in Harrisburg has been rescheduled from July 19 to Monday, July 16, 2007 beginning at 1:00 pm.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will remain in the same location, Hearing Room 1 of the North Office Building in Harrisburg.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced that as of today it has received four applications for the two available Category 3 licenses permitting the operation of up to 500 slot machines at a resort hotel. Applications were to be postmarked no later than June 29, 2007.

The following submitted applications:

Board to receive updated state budget information and determine effect on casino operations

HARRISBURG: A public meeting of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has been scheduled for Sunday, July 8, 2007 at 9:00 p.m. to permit the Board to take any necessary action should the Central Control Computer System be unavailable the following day. That system, operated by the Department of Revenue, controls and links all slot machines to one central computer.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court today unanimously affirmed the licensing decision of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to award a Category 2 slot machine license to Mt. Airy Lodge (Mount Airy #1, LLC) in the Poconos.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court today affirmed the licensing decision of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to award a Category 2 slot machine license to HSP Gaming, LP (SugarHouse Casino) and Philadelphia Entertainment and Development Partners, LP (Foxwoods Casino).

The ruling was a result of an appeal filed by Riverwalk Casino, LP, one of the applicants denied a license in December by the Board for a stand alone slot operator license in Philadelphia