HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today approved two grant requests totaling $177,488 to law enforcement agencies to fund programs designed to thwart illegal gambling in the Commonwealth.

These were the fourth and fifth awards approved by the Board under the Law Enforcement Grant Program since the program was amended by the state legislature in January of this year. Grants approved today went to the:

HARRISBURG: In order to help the public better understand the format of the upcoming Category 3 resort casino license eligibility/suitability hearings, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today released an outline of the anticipated order of testimony during the November 16th and 17 hearings.

HARRISBURG, PA: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today reported that slot machine gross revenue increased by 11.49% this October over the same month a year ago.

HARRISBURG, PA: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today fined Mount Airy #1 LLC, operator of Mount Airy Casino Resort, $40,000 for allowing individuals on the statewide Self-Exclusion List to gain access to the gaming floor and place wagers, and for sending promotional mailings to a self-excluded individual.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced the order in which the four applicants for the remaining Category 3 resort casino license will appear when eligibility/suitability hearings are held November 16th and 17th.

The hearings will be held at the Pennsylvania State Museum located at the corner of Third and North Streets in Harrisburg, with order as follows:

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

HARRISBURG: Susan Hensel, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s Director of Licensing, has been elected Vice Chair of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). The election occurred during the association’s annual meeting, which was held in Washington, D.C. the week of October 11, 2010.

Hensel has served as Secretary of IAGR during the past three years and will be in line to succeed Serobi Maja, Chief Executive Officer, Limpopo Gambling Board, South Africa, who ascended to Chair.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is reminding Individuals, elected officials and organizations that deadlines are fast approaching to submit written comment on any or all of the four applications seeking the remaining available Category 3 casino license.

Comments received by these deadlines would be included with earlier submitted public testimony and written comments in the evidentiary record used by the Gaming Control Board members to grant or deny licenses:

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

Table games produced gross revenue of $36,866,126 In September resulting in $5,898,580 in tax revenue after applying the 16% tax rate (14% to the Commonwealth’s General Fund and 2% to the local host county and municipality). That compares to $34,555,172 in gross revenue and $5,528,828 in tax revenue during August 2010, an increase of 6.7%.

HARRISBURG, PA: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today fined three casinos a total of $150,000 for 12 occurrences where persons under the age of 21 played slot machines and one incident that involved a minor gaining access to the gaming floor.

Civil penalties unanimously approved by the Board at its public meeting Wednesday in Harrisburg as part of consent agreements between the Board’s Office of Enforcement Counsel and the operators of the casinos were:

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced that public hearings to determine the eligibility and suitability of the four applicants vying for a remaining Category 3 license to operate a casino at a resort hotel will be held in Harrisburg November 16 and 17, 2010.