Before slots operations can be licensed at racetracks in the state, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board must issue licences for slot machine manufacturers and suppliers. Ten manufacturers have already applied but the rules are still being formulated for suppliers, and after that a 90-day period must elapse before racino licences may be granted. The Board is hoping to have these preliminary licences in place by the end of January 2006 at the latest, and start issuing conditional licences to seven racetracks next March or April. The racetracks have until 31 October to apply for permission to operate slot machines.

Pennsylvania’s slot machine law was enacted in July 2004 and has survived a legal challenge. Four operating racetracks will be submitting gaming applications as well as two new tracks that are being built. The location for building one other racetrack is expected to be decided soon, bringing to seven the number of future racinos in the state. One existing racetrack official has stated that people should not expect slot machine gambling to be operational before 2007, as permanent facilities would need to be constructed.

The Board has set 1 November to 28 December for gaming licence applications for slots parlours at two resort hotels and five stand-alone operations. It then has up to 12 months to approve or deny applications, meaning that any building development may not be able to start until the beginning of 2007. There is already heated opposition to proposed slots businesses at historic Gettysburg and Bethlehem. Pittsburgh will get one of the stand-alone licences and Philadelphia two, but actual locations for any of the five licences have yet to be decided. (E-09.09.05)

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