Gaming Control Board Issues 2007 Gaming Diversity Study

HARRISBURG, PA: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has released its first diversity study of the Commonwealth’s gaming industry.

The report, required under the Pennsylvania Racehorse Development and Gaming Act, outlines the actions taken by licensed slots gaming facilities to enhance the representation of diverse groups in the ownership and employment of its businesses and in associated enterprises that provide goods and services.

In addition, the report provides information on the Gaming Control Board’s own efforts to monitor the activities of its licensees to ensure the creation of quality, full-time living wage jobs and full-time permanent jobs for Commonwealth residents

The report is available for download at the Board’s web site: www.pgcb.state.pa.us. A link to the report is on the home page under the “What’s New” section.

Mozelle Daniels, the Board’s Chief Diversity Officer, said slots licensees have demonstrated substantial efforts and a sincere commitment to promote diversity.

“Beyond those mandates set out in the Gaming Act to assure diversity is taking place in the slots industry, licensees have exceeded most expectations by applying their own proven business practices,” Daniels said. “While reaching positive conclusions, this report also includes recommendations that both the license holders and the Board should consider to ensure that progress continues.”

Also included in the report are statistics on:

Casino employee profiles
Expenditures with minority businesses
Charitable contributions and community outreach
Demographics of the host and surrounding counties of the facilities

Under the Gaming Act, the Board is charged with promoting and ensuring diversity in all aspects of gaming activities. In kind, the Board developed diversity rules and regulations to assist the agency in accomplishing its goals. The diversity regulations established the policies and procedures for promoting and ensuring that the regulated entities foster participation and diversity in all aspects of their operations in the Commonwealth. This regulatory oversight by the Board includes diversity participation, establishment of a diversity plan, the reporting of participation, audits, and labor hiring preferences. The Act requires the Board to issue a Diversity Study annually.