Four Pennsylvania Resort Facilities Apply for Slots Licenses

The operators of the Valley Forge Convention Facility, the 2 destination resorts in the Pocono Mountains and a destination hotel facility in Pittsburgh have each applied to offer 500 slot machines, according to state gambling regulators.

Aside from the convention facility near Philadelphia, Fernwood Hotel and Resort in Bushkill, Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony and the closed Palace Inn in Monroeville, filed their application for the "resort licenses" allowed in the state law of 2004 that gave permission for the slot machines.

The deadline for filing the slots application was June 29, 2007. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board held a previous application process, but the only 2 slots license applicants, the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and the Seven Springs Mountain Resort, both withdrew their slots applications.

To qualify for the slots license, a hotel or resort facility must at least possess 275 guest rooms and offer recreational amenities throughout the year like skiing, golf, tennis and swimming. The facility must also have restaurants, convention and entertainment facilities.

Under the rules and regulations, only visitors and members of the resort may play the slot machines. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board commented that they plan to hold public hearings near the location of each slots license applicant.

Monday, 30 July 2007
Caroline Mitchell