The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board yesterday completed two days of licensing suitability hearings for Valley Forge Convention Center Partners, L.P. and Bushkill Group, Inc. (Fernwood Hotel & Resort), each requesting approval for either of the two available Category 3 slot machine licenses for existing resorts. The Board heard directly from the two applicants and questioned each about their character, operational and financial suitability, community impact, diversity plans, plans for the prevention of compulsive gaming and other issues.

In turn, PGCB staff reported to the Board their findings on the suitability of each applicant based on background investigations on the corporate entities and its principles, each applicant’s financing plans and expected revenue generation. “The Board will review all evidence collected and put into the record during these hearings, and be in a position to deliberate and consider a public vote on the awarding of these licenses in the future,” said Chairman Mary DiGiacomo Colins.

The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act permits the Board to award up to two licenses permitting a maximum of 500 slot machines in well-established resort hotels. Properties located in Pennsylvania that could qualify for a Category 3 license must be well-established resort hotels with no fewer than 275 guest rooms under common ownership, not located within 15 linear miles of any other licensed slot machine casino, and already offering substantial year-round recreational guest amenities on their premises.

The PGCB originally received four applications during 2007 for this category of license. However, two of the applicants, Vacation Charters, Ltd., a/k/a the Resort at Split Rock in Lake Harmony, Carbon County and CE-Palace, LP, a/k/a the Palace Inn in Monroeville, Allegheny County, later withdrew. Since the first casino opening in November 2006, legalized slot machine gaming has contributed nearly $1.9 billion in tax revenues to the Commonwealth for use in property tax reduction and rebates, strengthening the state’s horse racing and agriculture industries, and promoting economic development. (E-10.24.08)

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