PA Gaming Control Board Announces Public Input Hearing Schedule For Category 1 And 3 Slots Casino License Applicants

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced a schedule of Public Input Hearings for a Category 1 slots casino at a horse race track in Lawrence County and three applicants for two available Category 3 slots casino licenses at existing resorts.

Under the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, these Public Input Hearings must be held in the municipality where the facility will be located and organized in cooperation with the municipality. The schedule is as follows:

Category 1 Slot Machine License

Valley View Downs - Thursday, May 15, 9:00 a.m. at the Mahoning Township Community Center (Lawrence County) located at 4538 West State Street in Hillsville.

Category 3 Slot Machine License

Bushkill Group/Fernwood Resort - Wednesday, April 30, 9:00 a.m. in the Middle Smithfield Township Municipal Building (Monroe County) located at 25 Municipal Drive in East Stroudsburg.
Vacation Charters/Split Rock Resort - Thursday, May 1, 9:00 a.m in the Kidder Township Building (Carbon County) on State Route 1003 in Lake Harmony.
Valley Forge Convention Center Partners - Tuesday, May 20, 9:00 a.m. at the Dolce Valley Forge Hotel (Montgomery County) located at 301 West Dekalb Pike in King of Prussia.

Public input hearings provide a forum for individuals to voice their support or opposition to a proposed casino in their community, and permit those persons with an interest in the applicant’s proposal to learn more about the

• character, operational and financial suitability;
• community impact;
• diversity plans;
• plans for the prevention of compulsive gaming; and,
• other issues about the proposed facility.

Residents, community groups and elected officials wishing to present testimony at the public input hearings must register at least two days prior to the hearing. Individuals can register by clicking on a special link on the homepage of the PGCB website at www.pgcb.state.pa.us.

Additionally, those who cannot attend but would like to submit written comments for the record can do so up to 60 days following the hearing. Written comments can be submitted using that same link, or by mailing the comments to:

PGCB – Office of the Clerk
One Penn Center Suite 502
2601 North 3rd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110

Information received by the Board during these proceedings will be included in the record upon which the Board will grant or deny licenses.

The Board has also placed Local Impact Report and Diversity Plans for each of these four applicants on its web site. The link, titled Category 1 and 3 Applicant Information, can be found in the drop down box under the Licensure link. The Board will also place hard copies of the Local Impact and Diversity Plan reports for review at the appropriate local municipality office in which the facility will be located.

The Board will also schedule Licensing Hearings in Harrisburg for Category 1 and 3 applicants for later this year. Those hearings provide an opportunity for the Board to receive additional testimony from the applicants and also question those applicants. Public input will not be taken at those hearings, only at the announced Public Input Hearings.