Pennsylvania’s first sports wagering facility, the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, has seen its licence renewed by the state’s Gaming Control Board.
Voting unanimously regarding the category 1 racetrack casino operator’s licence of Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, the seven member board found the Penn National Gaming subsidiary to have fulfilled the obligations under its previously-approved licence, and therefore qualified to have a renewal for an additional five-year period.
Regarding its decision to award an additional five years to Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, the PGCB commented in a statement: “The decision to renew the license 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 on October 2 of this year in the casino’s host municipality, East Hanover Township, where personnel of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course submitted exhibits and presented testimony on various aspects of the facility’s operation since its last license renewal was granted in August 2014. The public was also permitted to provide testimony about 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, community groups 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 Bureau of Casino Compliance.”
Since its opening in November 2006, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course has generated over $2.7bn in gross revenue from the play of slot machines and table games, resulting in a return to the Commonwealth of approximately $1.4 billion in gaming tax revenue.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course currently operates over 2,000 slot machines and 75 table games, and is made up of a workforce of over 900 people.
