The owner of Penn National Race Course in Grantville, who was so keen on bringing slot machines to the track, is now taking time away from that project. He has pushed back its projected opening of a slot-machine casino at the track from the spring of 2007 to the third quarter of 2007.
The delay comes about as a result of an ongoing political dispute within the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The debate is over the distribution of gaming machines in the state. The dispute focuses centers on the fate of machine distributorships regionally and state wide. Since the PGCB has not resolved the issue, the owner couldn’t successfully see his project through soon enough.
The company had expected to open the casino by the second half of 2006, but extended to spring of 2007, and now maybe later in 2007. They hoped it would all be possible after the gaming legislation was approved last year, but still things need to be smoothed out. They are not prepared to help with the slots issue, so owners suffer because of the unresolved issue.
The company has vowed not to start construction until a license is granted. The PGCB stated their next decision of the issue will take place late next April. Maybe by then there will be a resolved issue. In the mean time no slots for anyone. |
