PA Gaming Board Chairman Reminds Public of Friday Comment Deadline

HARRISBURG: Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Chairman Thomas A. “Tad” Decker today reminded the public that the comment period on the Board’s draft regulations governing application and licensing requirements for operators of gaming facilities across the Commonwealth and other issues ends on Friday June 17, 2005.

“Regulating gaming operators is a major step toward the eventual licensing of the 14 gaming sites permitted under Act 71, and the public comment period is a key part of the regulatory process,” Decker said. “People interested in submitting comments on these draft regulations must make sure they are postmarked no later than June 17.”

Comments on the draft regulations may be submitted to the Board by U.S. mail only. Comments should be sent to PGCB, P.O. Box 69060, Harrisburg, PA, 17106-9060, Attn: Public Comment.

Decker noted that people wishing to submit comments for the public record must include the following information: name, organization represented (if appropriate), mailing address, telephone number, e-mail address, county, topic/regulation section number discussed. The mailing address, telephone number and e-mail address are for verification purposes only and will not be published in the final record, he added.
Submissions may be excluded from the final record if they do not address one of the following topics:

• General application and licensing requirements for gaming facility operators.

• Specific requirements for operators of gaming facilities at horse-racing tracks, also known as “Category 1” operators.

• Procedures for obtaining a Category 1 license through alternative licensing standards.

• Procedures for obtaining a Conditional Category 1 license.

• Bond or letter of credit specifications.

• Public input and political subdivision comment.

• Programs preventing and treating compulsive and problem gaming.

After the comment period closes, the Board will make the complete record of comments and responses available to interested parties via three sources. The Board will publish the record on its Web site, www.pgcb.state.pa.us; make it available for public inspection at the Board’s offices by appointment during regular business hours; and provide copies via U.S. mail at a price to be determined once the extent of the record is known. Details of these procedures and the date of publication will be announced.