Gaming Control Board Grants Authorization to Conduct Table Games at Two More Pennsylvania Casinos

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today approved petitions to conduct table games at the casinos located in the Commonwealth's two large cities.

Today's unanimous vote means all 10 petitions to conduct table games at Pennsylvania casinos now have been approved.  Approved by the Board following conclusion of the public hearing process were:

• Holdings Acquisition Co. L.P., operator of Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh
• SugarHouse HSP Gaming L.P., operator of Sugarhouse Casino in Philadelphia

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Chairman Greg Fajt said today's approvals conclude a significant amount of hard work on the part of the Board employees to moving the table games process forward as envisioned by the Legislature.

"There is much good news in these approvals, beginning with the fact that the casinos have worked hard and effectively with our staff to assemble and present to the Board solid plans to implement table games at each of their casinos while making sure that revenue from slot machine gaming does not drop," Fajt says.  "In addition, the approvals ensure that the Commonwealth will receive each of the $16.5 million table games license fees that are essential to help balance the current fiscal year budget."

Fajt adds that the approvals now help move the start of the implementation of table games at most casinos to just after the Fourth of July holiday allowing new revenues to be created for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

The casinos approved today each finished their own public hearing, a process that began earlier this year in each of the respective cities, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, with the collection of public input.  The two casinos explained to the Board that they would jointly create more than 750 new jobs to support their expansions into table games.  In addition, each informed the Board that it has the financial wherewithal to pay the state-mandated $16.5 million table games fee by June 1^st of this year.

Senate Bill 711, now Act 1 of 2010, provides authorization for existing Pennsylvania casinos to conduct table games through the filing of a petition with, and approval by, the Gaming Control Board.

Information on the table games public hearings is available by clicking of the Table Games Public Input Hearings link on the home page of the Gaming Control Board's web site, www.pgcb.state.pa.us.

Each Category 1 and 2 facility approved by the Board can conduct gaming at up to 250 tables in addition to operating up to 5,000 slot machines.  

Details of Rivers Casino Table Games Startup Proposal:

• Banking Games – 62 total consisting of 42 Blackjack tables, 6 Craps tables, 3 Roulette tables, 3 Three-Card Poker tables, 3 Texas Hold'em Bonus tables, 2 Pai Gow Poker tables, 2 Mini Baccarat tables and 1 Big 6 wheel.
• Non-Banking Games – 24  Poker  tables
• Additional Jobs to be Created by Table Games – 458 total consisting of 309 full-time and 149 part-time
• Renovations of gaming facility which will employ an addition 80 construction workers through 7 local contractors
• Table Games Training – provided at facility

Details of Sugarhouse Table Games Startup Proposal:

• Banking Games – 40 total consisting of 18 Blackjack tables, 6 Craps tables, 4 Roulette tables, 3 Mini Baccarat tables, 3 Pai Gow Poker tables, 4 Three Card Poker tables and 2 Four Card Poker tables.
• Additional Jobs to be Created by Table Games – 306
• 15-20 additional construction jobs
• Table Games Training – provided at facility

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 nine of a maximum fourteen casinos in operation, legalized gaming in the Commonwealth has created over 8,000 new living wage jobs, revenue that has provided property tax reduction in each of the past two years for all homeowners, and funds that have reinvigorated Pennsylvania's horse racing industry.  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, videos and information on the operation of the PGCB, problem gambling efforts and assistance, future meeting schedules and past meeting transcripts, and a link to request a speaker are among the many items available.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board