HARRISBURG: Thomas “Tad” Decker today announced that he will not seek a second term as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and will leave that position effective August 9, 2007.

Decker oversaw the development of the Gaming Control Board, an organization that did not exist and now has a staff of over 250 individuals with offices in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and staff currently on-site at five casinos.

HARRISBURG: Top management from six of Pennsylvania's slot operators appeared before the Gaming Control Board yesterday and reported on the status of construction and updated plans for state-of-the-art permanent gaming venues.

HARRISBURG: Judge Mary DiGiacomo Colins has assumed Chairmanship of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board as only the second person and first female to hold that position.  She succeeds outgoing Chairman Thomas “Tad” Decker.

Judge Colins has served on the Board as an appointee by Governor Edward G. Rendell since its inception in 2004, was reappointed to a second three-year term, and named by the Governor last week to take over this top post.

Schedule to Accept Category 1 Applications Also Announced

HARRISBURG: James B. Ginty was sworn in as the newest member of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board during its regular meeting held Wednesday in Philadelphia.

First Category 3 Hearings Scheduled for October

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced that it has placed the local impact and diversity reports for the Category 3 gaming licenses on its web site.

Four applications were received in June for the two available Category 3 licenses permitting the operation of up to 500 slot machines at an existing resort hotel. Those applying were:

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced that, beginning on Monday September 24, 2007, it will make available for review the operator license applications for two available Category 3 resort licenses.

The files will be available at the Board’s Harrisburg offices located in the Verizon Tower of Strawberry Square, 303 Walnut Street. It is suggested that persons interested in reviewing these files contact Deb Joyce at 717-346-2708 to arrange a time during normal PGCB business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Chairman Mary DiGiacomo Colins, Board members Sanford Rivers and Jim Ginty, along with Executive Director Anne Neeb marked the completion of a new state-of-the-art slot machine testing and certifications laboratory this morning at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its Harrisburg office.

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today denied motions from HSP Gaming, LP (Sugarhouse Casino) and Philadelphia Entertainment and Development Partners, LP (Foxwoods Casino) for an extension of time to pay their $50 million license fee.

The unanimous ruling means that Sugarhouse and Foxwoods are required to pay the $50 million fee within 10 business days of the meeting date.

Chairman Mary DiGiacomo Colins said the Board was unconvinced that good cause to further delay the payments was established by either licensee.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board awarded seven grants this week totaling $778,145.06 to local law enforcement agencies for training, prevention, enforcement, investigation and prosecution of illegal slot machines.

These were the first awards of this type under the $5 million annual grant program developed and approved by the Legislature as part of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act. The funding is drawn from revenues generated from slot machine facilities.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today updated its meeting schedule for the remainder of 2007. As part of an updated agenda, the Board has scheduled a board meeting on October 17th immediately following the 9:00 a.m. Category 3 criteria eligiblity hearing. The meeting will take place in the PUC Hearing Room 1, Keystone Building, Harrisburg.