HARRISBURG: Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Chairman Thomas A. “Tad” Decker today reminded the public that the comment period on the Board’s draft regulations governing application and licensing requirements for operators of gaming facilities across the Commonwealth and other issues ends on Friday June 17, 2005.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced that it is planning a Gaming Diversity Forum to promote the inclusion of women- and minority-owned businesses in the Commonwealth’s emerging gaming industry.

HARRISBURG: Thomas A. Decker, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, today issued the following statement on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision upholding most of Act 71 of 2004, which permits expanded gaming in the Commonwealth:

"My fellow Board members and I are delighted that the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of most of Act 71. We will continue to move forward with our mission: implementing and regulating expanded gaming in Pennsylvania."

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced that it has posted on its Web site downloadable application forms for companies and people interested in becoming licensed manufacturers of gaming equipment in the Commonwealth.

The deadline for returning completed applications to the Board is Aug. 15, 2005.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will hold a public meet at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday July 7, 2005, in Public Hearing Room #1 of the North Office Building in the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg. The North Office Building is at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and North Street. People without Capitol credentials should use the North Street entrance to pass through security.

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

HARRISBURG: Video highlights of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board press conference introducing the Board’s first Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director for Investigations and Enforcement will be available from 3:30 to 3:45 p.m. EDT today. Coordinates for the satellite feed appear below.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced a 10-day public comment period on a concept introduced by Chairman Tad Decker that would divide the state into two regions for the purpose of issuing gaming-supplier licenses mandated by Act 71 of 2004 and would include other common distribution practices.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today unanimously approved the hiring of lawyers Nanette Horner, Michael Schwoyer and Lisa McClain for the staff of its Chief Counsel’s office.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, charged by statute with overseeing the development of slots gaming in the Commonwealth and subsequently regulating the multi-billion dollar industry, today unanimously selected David J. Kwait as its first Director of Investigations and Enforcement, the top law-enforcement position in the agency.

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, charged by statute with overseeing the development of slots gaming in the Commonwealth and subsequently regulating the multi-billion dollar industry, today unanimously selected Anne Lacour Neeb as the agency’s first executive director. Neeb is currently executive director of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, which oversees all gaming activities in that state.