HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today approved an administrative budget for fiscal year 2004-05, ending June 30, 2005, that totals $3.9 million. Under Act 71 of 2004, the legislation creating the Board, the Pennsylvania General Assembly appropriated $7.5 million for the Board over two years that must be repaid from revenue generated by expanded gaming in Pennsylvania (A copy of the administrative budget is attached to this release).

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will hold a public meeting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday March 15, 2005, in Salon E of the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market St., Philadelphia. The Board will hold executive sessions at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to discuss personnel matters. The executive sessions are closed to the public and the media.

At the public meeting, limited seating will be reserved for the media, and multi-box connections will be available. Agendas will be available at the meeting.

PHILADELPHIA: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has hired LaMonte J. Williams as its Deputy Chief Counsel for Administration, Board Chairman Thomas A. Decker said today.

Williams, currently Director of the Bureau of Equal Opportunity in the Commonwealth's Office of Administration, will also serve as the Gaming Board's Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, Decker said.

"LaMonte has been an outstanding Director of the Bureau of Equal Opportunity for the Commonwealth, and we look forward to having him on our staff," Decker said.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will hold a public meeting at 1 p.m. on Tuesday April 12, 2005, in Room 8 E of the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg. Limited seating will be reserved for the media, and mult-box connections will be available. Agendas will be available at the meeting.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today opened a month-long public comment period on draft regulations covering the manufacturers and suppliers of gaming equipment and general administration.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will hold a public meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday May 5, 2005, in Hearing Room #1 of the North Office Building in the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg. Limited seating will be reserved for the media, and mult-box connections will be available. Agendas will be available at the meeting.

People without Capitol credentials should enter the North Office Building at the North Street entrance, between 3rd Street and Commonwealth Avenue, for security screening.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will hold a public meeting at 3 p.m. on Wednesday May 18, 2005, in Hearing Room 8E of the Capitol Complex. Limited seating will be reserved for the media, and mult-box connections will be available. Agendas will be available at the meeting.

HARRISBURG: Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Chairman Thomas A. “Tad” Decker today reminded the public that the comment period on the Board’s draft regulations covering manufacturers and suppliers of gaming equipment ends on Friday May 13, 2005.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today launched a 30-day public-comment period on draft regulations governing application and licensing requirements for operators of gaming facilities across the Commonwealth.

“Act 71 gives the Board the ‘power and duty’ to adopt the regulations necessary to bring expanded gaming to Pennsylvania and ensure its integrity,” said Board Chairman Thomas A. “Tad” Decker. “With each set of regulations we develop, we move a step closer to the day when expanded gaming can begin in the Commonwealth.”

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will hold a public meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday June 2, 2005, in the McConomy Auditorium of the University Center on the Carnegie Mellon University campus in Pittsburgh. The University Center is on Forbes Avenue near Forbes Avenue’s intersections with Morewood Avenue and Beeler Street.

Limited seating will be reserved for the media, and mult-box connections will be available. Agendas will be available at the meeting.