PA Gaming Board Approves 2004-05 Budget

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today approved an administrative budget for fiscal year 2004-05, ending June 30, 2005, that totals $3.9 million. Under Act 71 of 2004, the legislation creating the Board, the Pennsylvania General Assembly appropriated $7.5 million for the Board over two years that must be repaid from revenue generated by expanded gaming in Pennsylvania (A copy of the administrative budget is attached to this release).

Commissioner Mary DiGiacomo Colins announced that the Board has circulated draft regulations for manufacturers and suppliers of gaming equipment to the leaders of the four caucuses of the General Assembly for review and comment. The Board will post those draft regulations on its Web site, www.pgcb.state.pa.us, on March 14 for a 10-day, public review-and-comment period. Instructions for members of the public to submit comments will also be published on the Web site on March 14. Board members hope to be able to issue the first licenses to manufacturers and suppliers in September.

Commissioner Sanford Rivers presented an overview of the Board’s short-term and intermediate-term staffing needs. Board members have been interviewing candidates for Executive Director, Chief Counsel and Deputy Executive Director of Investigations and Enforcement, he said, and these interviews will continue for several more weeks. Commissioner Rivers also identified 18 other positions that need to be filled to facilitate the process of licensing manufacturers and suppliers in coming months. By the end of fiscal year 2004-05, the Board will need another 24 staff members – on top of the initial 18 hires -- to handle its growing work load. The Board currently has seven staff members.

Chairman Thomas A. Decker announced that the Board’s next public meeting will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday March 15, 2005, in Philadelphia. The exact location will be announced at a later date.