PA Gaming Control Board To Hold Public Hearing On April 8th For Valley Forge Casino Resort License Renewal

Public is welcome and invited to participate

HARRISBURG, PA: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today announced that it would hold a public hearing on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 to gather evidence, including public comment, on the renewal of the Category 3 casino license of Valley Forge Convention Center Partners, LP, operator of Valley Forge Casino in Montgomery County.

The hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the Upper Merion Township Building, West Valley Forge Road, Freedom Hall, Room 175, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Citizens, community groups and elected officials wishing to present oral or written testimony, which will become part of the evidentiary record in this matter, can now register by clicking on a special link on the Quick Links section of the homepage on the PGCB website, www.gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov. The deadline for registration to speak at the hearing is noon on Monday, April 6^th.

Written comments can also be mailed, with a postmark no later than Friday, April 3rd, to the PA Gaming Control Board, P.O. Box 69060, Harrisburg, PA 17106, Attention: Board Clerk. The comments can be faxed prior to that deadline to 717-265-7416.

Pursuant to section 1326 of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, all licenses shall be subject to renewal every three years. The renewal application must include an update of the information contained in the initial application.

To implement the renewal requirement, the Board utilizes a two-step process:

First, the April 8^th public hearing will be held before the Director of the Office of Hearings and Appeals for the purpose of receiving documentary evidence, hearing testimony and building a record upon which the Board will base its licensing decision. The hearing record, along with a report from the Director of Hearings and Appeals, will be transmitted to the Board.

The second step is to hold a public hearing in Harrisburg at a later date where Board members can ask additional questions and the parties may offer oral argument. At the renewal hearings, the burden is on the renewal applicant to establish and demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, its eligibility and suitability for renewal of its license. During the hearing, the licensee will be given the opportunity to demonstrate, among other things, its good character, honesty and integrity; compliance with its statement of conditions; tax revenue generated; jobs created; amenities added since opening of the casino; success in implementing its diversity plan, and involvement in the surrounding community.

Following these proceedings, the Board will then be able to determine whether or not Valley Forge Casino Resort’s licensee remains eligible and suitable consistent with the laws of the Commonwealth, and is otherwise qualified to have its license renewed for a three-year period.

About the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board:

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board was established in 2004 and is tasked to oversee all aspects of the state’s casino industry. There are 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos in operation, along with the two resort casinos. These facilities collectively employ over 17,700 people and generate an average of $3.7 million per day in tax revenue from slot machine and table games play. The largest portion of that money is used for property tax reduction to all Pennsylvania homeowners with additional tax revenue going to the horse racing industry, economic development projects, fire companies, county fairs, water and sewer projects, the Commonwealth’s General Fund, and to local governments that host casinos.

Additional information about both the PGCB’s regulatory efforts and Pennsylvania’s gaming industry can be found at www.gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov. You can also follow the agency on Twitter by choosing @PAGamingControl.

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