Court Mandates That State Treasurer Must Sign PGCB's Code of Ethics To Attend Board Meetings

HARRISBURG, PA: The Commonwealth Court issued an Order today in the action brought by Treasurer Robert McCord against the PA Gaming Control Board, in which the Court ordered that the Treasurer must sign documents governing and guiding his conduct if he wants to participate in Board proceedings.

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania grants the relief that the Board has been demanding all along: requiring the Treasurer and his designees to sign and abide by the identical code and documents which apply to the seven voting members of the Gaming Control Board.

To date, and for 24 months since taking office, the Treasurer and his designees have steadfastly refused to sign and abide by the Board’s Code of Ethics and Non-Disclosure agreement which the legislature had mandated.

The Court’s Order makes it clear that the Treasurer may no longer complain about not participating in Board proceedings. He must agree to the same ethical code which assures his participation is free from reasonable question as to his objectivity, impartiality and integrity.

This is nothing less than what the Board has requested all along.

The Commonwealth Court Order is posted to the PGCB website under the “What’s New” Section.

About the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board was established in 2004 with the passage of Act 71, also known as the Race Horse Development and Gaming Act. Pennsylvania’s first new state agency in nearly 40 years, the Gaming Control Board is tasked to oversee all aspects of the state’s casino industry. To date, with ten casinos in operation, legalized gaming in the Commonwealth has created, or helped race track facilities retain, nearly 14,000 living wage jobs, provided property tax reduction in each of the past three years for all homeowners, produced revenue that has reinvigorated Pennsylvania’s horse racing industry, and provided a new stream of tax revenue to local governments that has funded scores of community projects. A wealth of information about the Gaming Control Board and Pennsylvania’s gaming industry can be found at www.pgcb.state.pa.us. At this web site, visitors can view videos of Board meetings and on the operation of the PGCB, obtain information on identifying a gambling problem and gaining assistance, look up future meeting schedules and past meeting transcripts, access an interactive map of casino locations, request a speaker for their group, along with much more information.

# # #