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Public welcome and invited to participate

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced May hearings for three western Pennsylvania casinos to gather evidence, including public comment, on the renewal of their slot machine operators' licenses.

All hearings will begin at 10 a.m. and are as follows:

May 3, 2011 - Presque Isle Downs and Casino (Presque Isle Downs, Inc.)

Location: Summit Township Building, 8900 Old French Rd., Erie, PA 16509.

May 4, 2011 - The Meadows Racetrack and Casino (Washington Trotting Association, Inc.)

Location: City Hall Council Chambers, 55 W. Maiden St., Washington, PA 15301.

May 5, 2011 - Rivers Casino (Holdings Acquisition Co, L.P.)

Allegheny Cty Courthouse, Rm. 410 (Gold Room), 436 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

Citizens, community groups and elected officials, wishing to present oral or written testimony which will become part of the evidentiary record in this matter, can now register by clicking on a special link on the homepage of the PGCB website at www.pgcb.state.pa.us or by calling the Board Secretary at 717-346-8300.  The deadline for registration and the receipt of written comments for all hearings is noon on April 29, 2011.

Comments can be mailed, postmarked no later than April 29, 2011, to the PA Gaming Control Board, P.O. Box 69060, Harrisburg, PA 17106, Attention: Board Secretary, or faxed to 717-346-8350.

Pursuant to section 1326 of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, all licenses shall be subject to renewal. The renewal application must include an update of the information contained in the initial application.  To implement the renewal requirement, the Board will utilize a two-step process.  

• First, a public hearing will be held, in the municipality where the casino operates, before the Director of the Office of Hearings and Appeals for the purpose of receiving documentary evidence, hearing testimony and building a record upon which the Board will base its licensing decision.  The hearing record, along with a report from the Director of Hearings and Appeals, will be transmitted to the Board.
• The second step is to hold a public hearing before the Board in Harrisburg where the Board could ask any additional questions and the parties may offer oral argument.  At the renewal hearings, the burden is on the renewal applicant to establish and demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, its eligibility and suitability for renewal of its slot machine license and table games certification.  During the hearing, the licensee will be given the opportunity to demonstrate, among other things, its good character, honesty and integrity; compliance with its statement of conditions; tax revenue generated; jobs created; amenities added since the opening of the casino; success in implementing its diversity plan and involvement in the surrounding community.  

Following these proceedings, the Board will then be able to determine whether or not the licensee remains eligible and suitable consistent with the laws of the Commonwealth and is otherwise qualified to have its license renewed.

About the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board was established in 2004 with the passage of Act 71, also known as the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act.  Pennsylvania's first new state agency in nearly 40 years, the Gaming Control Board is tasked to oversee all aspects of the state's casino industry.  Currently, the ten casinos in operation in the Commonwealth employ over 14,000 living persons.  Casino gaming is also providing the revenue for property tax reduction, funds that have reinvigorated Pennsylvania's horse racing industry, and a new stream of tax revenue to local governments that is funding community projects.  A wealth of information about the Gaming Control Board and Pennsylvania's gaming industry can be found at www.pgcb.state.pa.us.  At this web site, visitors can view videos of Board meetings and on the operation of the PGCB, obtain  information on identifying a gambling problem and gaining assistance, look up future meeting schedules and past meeting transcripts, access an interactive map of casino locations, request a speaker for their group, along with much more information.

CONTACT: Doug Harbach or Richard McGarvey

717) 346-8321

SOURCE Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

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