Pennsylvania regulator renews Presque Isle Downs and Casino gaming license
Under the extended license, the venue can operate for another five years.
Key Points
- Public hearings were held prior to the decision to extend the casino’s license
- The casino has more than 1,200 slot games and 31 table games
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has reissued a Category 1 horse track casino license to Presque Isle Downs and Casino in Erie County. The board approved the renewal by unanimous vote.
Under the new gaming license, the casino and racetrack will be allowed to continue its operations for another five years.
Prior to approval, the PGCB held a series of public input hearings and allowed the venue time to present relevant information related to its license renewal request. Members of the public also had an opportunity to share information and share comments on the casino’s potential impact on the community.
Board Chair Denise Smyler commented, “The Board has taken a very close look at this license renewal, and we would first like to thank the efforts of Board staff – particularly, the Financial Investigations Unit, within the Bureau of Investigations, and the Office of Enforcement Counsel – for providing us with the tools and information which allowed us to perform a detailed analysis.”
At a public hearing in May, the casino’s general manager discussed the destination’s financial health and said the casino could possibly close “in the near future due to financial issues.”
However, Smyler assured those concerned that the board is confident the casino can continue providing entertainment for local players for the foresable future.
Smyler said, “We realize that conducting such a thorough and detailed review, which we were obligated to do – may have been a little disconcerting to the people of Erie, particularly the good people that work at Presque Isle Downs, Presque Isle suppliers and its patrons.
“What I would like to say to those people is that the Board is renewing this license for five years, and while there will be conditions on Presque Isle Downs requiring ongoing monitoring by the board, we are confident that Presque Isle Downs, with the financial support of Churchill Downs behind it, will continue to be open and, with ongoing modifications, we are hopeful will once again thrive.”
Presque Isle Downs and Casino welcomed its first patrons in 2007 and has generated close to $2.52bn in gross revenue since opening. The casino is home to 1,525 slot machines and 31 table games.
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