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 covering manufacturers and suppliers of gaming equipment ends on Friday May 13, 2005.

“Regulating manufacturers and suppliers of gaming equipment 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 May 13.” Pennsylvania’s gaming law requires that equipment manufacturers and suppliers be licensed for at least 90 days before gaming facilities may be licensed.

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 The mailing address, telephone number and e-mail address are for verification purposes only and will not be published in the final record, he added.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 the topic of regulating manufacturers and suppliers of gaming equipment or general administration, Decker added.

Once the public comment period is closed, the Board will make the complete record of comments and Board 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 mail at a price to be determined once the extent of the record is known. Details of these procedures will be announced when the final record is published. The tentative date of publication of the comments is Wednesday May 18, 2005.