The Chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has reiterated yesterday that grants awarded under a programme mandated in the Gaming Act are to be used only to enforce and prevent the unlawful operation of slot machines in the Commonwealth, and not for illegal activities involving small games of chance. Mary DiGiacomo Colins made this announcement following the latest approvals by the Gaming Control Board of five new grant requests totalling US$272,364.83 to local law enforcement agencies.

"Counter to some media reports, these grants are being used exclusively by local law enforcement agents to identify and eliminate just the illegal use of slot machines in the Commonwealth, and not by Liquor Control Enforcement on crackdowns of any small games of chance violations at private clubs," Colins said. "These grants, in fact, cannot be awarded to a state enforcement agency such as the LCE."

Grants may be awarded for the purpose of attending education and training events sponsored by authoritative agencies for the purpose of training officers, investigators or attorneys in techniques appropriate to the enforcement and prevention of the operation of unlawful slot machines in the Commonwealth. Grants may be awarded to conduct programs utilizing proven methods to attain deterrence or prevention of the illegal use of slot machines.

Also grants may be awarded to defray costs related to assigning officers or investigators to prevent, deter, enforce or investigate the illegal use of slot machines; and grants may be awarded to defray the cost of prosecuting crimes involving the illegal use of slot machines. Other programmes that address prevention and enforcement of the use of illegal slot machines in the Commonwealth may be proposed.

The programme funding comes exclusively from revenues generated from licensed slot machine facilities, and permits up to US$5 million to be awarded annually. Maximum grants are $250,000 and a total of US$3,127,247 has now been awarded since the Board initiated the programme in late 2007. Local law enforcement agencies are encouraged to apply for these grants which are awarded to eligible applicants until funding is exhausted. (E-07.15.08)

© Copyright 2008 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage