PGCB Chair Outlines Gaming Industry and Regulatory Oversight Maturity in PA

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mary DiGiacomo Colins,
Chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, today presented an update
on the success and expanded regulatory oversight of legalized slots gaming in
the Commonwealth.

The comments were made during Colins' keynote address at the 5th Annual
Pennsylvania Gaming Congress and Mid-Atlantic Racing Forum in Harrisburg.

"Since the opening of the first slots casino in November 2006, legalized slots
gaming has generated $2.2 billion in revenues directly returned to the state,"
said Colins. "These funds are being used to provide general property tax
relief to all Pennsylvania homeowners, more than double those eligible rebates
under the property tax and rent rebate program for seniors, reinvigorate the
state's horse racing industry, and provide thousands of new living wage jobs."

Colins said that through the end of 2008, approximately 6,200 new jobs at the
casinos have been created, and the casinos are clearly meeting the intent of
the Act regarding diversity.

"During these rough times, some casinos have cut back in personnel," Colins
added, "but the good news is that those job reductions have been minimal."

Colins also told the 250 in attendance that the coming year will be a
significant in the expansion of Pennsylvania gaming with two new facilities
opening in Pittsburgh and Bethlehem and two existing facilities, the Meadows
Racetrack and Casino and Philadelphia Park Casino and Racetrack, slated to
significantly expand. She said that after this expansion is complete, taxable
gross terminal revenue is expected to rise by 43%. The amount of taxable
gross terminal revenue generated by the seven casinos currently operating was
$132.3 million in the last full month of January, 2009.

Colins noted that this expansion means the Gaming Control Board's regulatory
outreach needs to expand to meet the mandates it is to carry out.

"The public has high expectations in this area, and we are not in a position
to fail," Colins explained. "This becomes more difficult, however, when we
must meet the demands placed on us for the opening and staffing of the new
casinos under the shadow of a tight state budget."

Colins also touched upon the PGCB's efforts to balance its regulatory
oversight to protect the citizens of Pennsylvania while at the same time
ensuring that unnecessary roadblocks are not placed before the casinos in
their efforts to continue the ramping up of revenues and jobs.

"While we will be tough when toughness is necessary, the gaming industry can
expect the PGCB to provide reasonable, consistent and predictable enforcement
as the gaming industry in Pennsylvania matures," said Colins. "As regulators
we must ask ourselves what we can be doing to help the licensee be compliant
with our regulations and still allow the casino to operate at its highest
capability."

Colins gave examples of how the PGCB will be instituting new programs and
adapting current regulatory methods to best meet the needs of the evolving
slots industry. These included regular audits of the casinos' internal
controls, the processes involving vendor investigations and certifications,
and the continued expansion of the online SlotsLink system that enables swift
and accurate transfer of applicant information resulting in shorter turnaround
times and less cost in the licensing process.

Colins was appointed by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board by Governor
Edward G. Rendell in November 2004 and later appointed Chairman in 2007. Her
complete biography for is available on the Gaming Control Board's web site at
www.pgcb.state.pa.us under the About PGCB/Executive Staff tab. Organizations
that seek speakers on topics related to legalized slots gaming can also make
requests through the PGCB's web site.

CONTACT:
Doug Harbach or Richard McGarvey (717) 346-8321

SOURCE Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

Doug Harbach or Richard McGarvey, both of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control
Board, +1-717-346-8321