James B. Ginty Sworn In As Newest Member of the Gaming Control Board

Schedule to Accept Category 1 Applications Also Announced

HARRISBURG: James B. Ginty was sworn in as the newest member of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board during its regular meeting held Wednesday in Philadelphia.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to participate in the very important work of the Board," said Ginty. "The Board has set a very high bar in addressing the serious issue of legalized gaming in the Commonwealth. I look forward to working with the other members of the Board as we move this industry forward for the benefit of all Pennsylvanians.”

Ginty, whose appointment was made by Gov. Edward G. Rendell, is a senior vice president with Right Management Consultants in Philadelphia and formerly was President of AT&T Pennsylvania.

"Jim’s extensive professional background in business management fits in perfectly with the changing nature of the Board. As we move forward into the regulatory management phase of legalized gambling in Pennsylvania his experience will help to craft a new industry,” said Chairman Mary DiGiacomo Colins.

Ginty holds a degree in accounting from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He has served as Senior Counsel for the Supreme Court of the United States, as a Trial Attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement in Washington, D.C., and as an officer in the U. S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

Ginty has also been very involved in community activities and is a current Board Member and former Chairman (1998-1999) of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, chairman of The World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia and serves on the Board of The Mann Center for Performing Arts.

Ginty and his wife, Carol, reside in Philadelphia.

In other business, the Board agreed to begin accepting applications on September 17 for Category 1 operating licenses. Applications must be in by November 19. This category of license is for slot machine facilities at horse race tracks.

The Gaming Act permits seven Category 1 facilities for which the Board has already awarded six licenses. Recently, the State Harness Racing Commission licensed a new race track in Lawrence County that is eligible to apply for the last available casino license.

The Board also announced that it has reopened the Local Law Enforcement Grant program for new applications. The program is available to local law enforcement agencies to prevent and enforce the unlawful operation of slot machines.

The grant program was developed and approved by the Legislature as part of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act and funded with $5 million annually from money generated from slot machine facilities.

Instructions and applications are available on the PGCB website, www.pgcb.state.pa.us. The application period will run until October 1, 2007.

In other business, the Board heard a presentation from Philip Satre, Chairman of the National Center for Responsible Gaming regarding compulsive and problem gaming.

The next meeting of the Gaming Control Board will be at Lackawanna College in Scranton on October 2 at 10:00 a.m.

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