Supplier News
US – Pennsylvania renews license for Rivers Casino
By Phil - 23 November 2015
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has unanimously voted to renew the Category 2 casino operator’s license of Holdings Acquisition, operator of the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County.
The seven member Board determined that Holdings Acquisition had fulfilled the obligations under its initial casino operator’s license and therefore qualified to have its license renewed. The new license is for a three-year period.
The decision was based on a process utilised by the Board that enables both the operator and the public to provide information relevant to the renewal decision. A public input hearing was held for Holdings Acquisition on June 2, 2015 at theAllegheny County Courthouse. At the hearing, representatives of the licensee submitted exhibits and presented testimony on various aspects on the operation of the Rivers Casino since its previous license renewal. The public was also permitted to provide testimony on the casino and its impact in the community.
In reaching its decision, the Board also reviewed testimony received at the hearing from local government officials and the PA State Police, along with the Gaming Control Board’s Office of Enforcement Counsel, Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement, Office of Compulsive and Problem Gaming, and Casino Compliance. Each testified as to Holdings Acquisition’s performance since receiving its last operator’s license renewal in 2011.
Additionally, a public hearing was held in Harrisburg prior to the Board’s regular meeting today to permit Board members to further question Holdings Acquisition representatives about any remaining issues prior to voting on the renewal. A PowerPoint presentation provided at today’s meeting is available on the Board’s web site, www.pgcb.state.pa.us, under the Board Meetings tab.
Since its opening in 2009, the Rivers Casino has generated over $2bn in gross revenue from the play of slot machines and table games. Total tax revenue generated and returned to the Commonwealth from the combined play of slots and tables is approximately $980m.
Through the third quarter of 2015, employment at the Rivers Casino was 1,697 persons of which 96.5% were Pennsylvania residents.
