1. Pa Gaming Commission Website
2. Pa Casino Gaming Commission Address
3. Pa State Gaming Control Board

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is a governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, founded in 2004 as the state licensing and the regulatory agency responsible for overseeing slot machines and casino gambling in the state.

The first completely new agency created in Pennsylvania in over 30 years, the PGCB administers the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, also known as 'Act 71', and its regulations to assure public trust and confidence in the credibility and integrity of casinos in Pennsylvania. The Board also acts to fulfill 'the objectives of limited gaming in the Commonwealth to deliver a significant source of revenue, assist the horse racing industry, provide broad economic opportunities, and enhance tourism.'^[1]

The PGCB does not oversee games of chance in the Commonwealth such as the Pennsylvania Lottery or other permitted games of chance at clubs and non-profit organizations.

Gambling in Pennsylvania includes casino gambling, the Pennsylvania Lottery, horse racing, Bingo, and small games of chance conducted by nonprofit organizations and taverns under limited circumstances. Although casinos gaming has only been legal for about a decade, Pennsylvania is second only to Nevada in commercial casino revenues. Pa Casino Control Commission. Pa casino control commission The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is a governmental agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, founded in 2004 as the state licensing and regulatory agency responsible for overseeing slot machines and casino gambling in the state.Casinos: History of Gambling in Philadelphia. The commonwealth is home to six state-of-the-art racing and gaming complexes and hosts harness racing at 16 agricultural county fairs. The State Horse Racing Commission and the Department of Agriculture are committed to reinvesting in PA Racing and will continue to develop Pennsylvania's reputation as a superior place to breed, train, race. NEW number to Report Harvests by phone: 1-800-838-4431. Close NEW number to Report Harvests by phone: 1-800-838-4431. Pennsylvania gamblers will be able to head to two of Penn National Gaming casinos at 8 a.m. Tom Wolf’s three-week temporary closure that began Dec.

In December 2020, Pennsylvania became the first state to use a self-exclusion tool for online gamblers. In Pennsylvania, about 200,000 gamblers have had problem gaming issues.^[2]

Composition[edit]

The board consists of seven voting members, three of which are appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania and four of which are appointed by the leadership of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.^[3] By statute, the State Treasurer, Secretary of Revenue, and Secretary of Agriculture are non-voting ex officio members.^[4]

Current commissioner Merritt C. Reitzel was appointed by SenatorJoe Scarnati for a two-year term in 2017 and was re-appointed in 2019.^[5]

Notable board members[edit]

• Jeffrey Coy (2004–2006)
• Gregory Fajt (Chairman, 2009–2011)
• William H. Ryan, Jr. (Chairman, 2011–2015)

Duties[edit]

Among other duties, the Board operates a slot-machine testing center. Located above the Board's Harrisburg office, the center was established in September 2008. Each month, Pennsylvania casinos and slot-machine operators give the Board a list of the 'payouts' on each of their machines: how often and how much they pay per average play. Board employees at the center test various models of slot machine to measure their payouts. This information is not passed on to the public.^[6]

The PGCB also set up an Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling devoted to 'understanding and alleviating the devastating effects of pathological gambling.'^[7] Under PGCB's regulations, gambling facilities in the state must submit and have approved a compulsive-and-problem-gambling plan before starting gambling operations. These plans must include items such as employee training when dealing with compulsive gamblers, self-exclusion plans and how to handle people who want to be on Pennsylvania's self-exclusion list, the responsibility of patrons with respect to responsible gambling, the availability of printed material and signage throughout the casino, and procedures to prevent intoxicated and underage gambling.^[8]

Funding and support[edit]

The PGCB's funding is from several sources, none directly from taxpayers. The largest funding mechanism is from slot machine revenues, but only after deduction of appropriate taxes that are transferred to a number of recipients:^[9]

• the local and county governments that host a facility
• the horse racing industry
• economic development and tourism efforts, and
• a State Gaming Fund which primarily provides revenues to school districts which, in turn, use toward the lowering of local property taxes.

In addition, the PGCB bills applicants for investigative costs associated with securing any type of license and manufacturers of slot machines and related goods who seek approval of equipment to be used in casinos.^{[original research?]}

The Gaming Act also requires a role in gaming oversight by the State Police, Department of Revenue and Attorney General, whose costs are also reimbursed from slot machine revenues.^{[original research?]}

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board'. Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
2. ^Bittenbender, Steve (December 27, 2020). 'Pennsylvania First State to Partner with PlayPause Self-Exclusion Tool'. Casino.org. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
3. ^MembersArchived April 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, www.pgcb.state.pa.us
4. ^Ex officioArchived April 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine members, www.pgcb.state.pa.us
5. ^'Merritt C. Reitzel – Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board'. gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
6. ^Thompson, Isaiah (January 7, 2009). 'Meet Your New Neighbor'. Philadelphia CityPaper. Archived from the original on March 27, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
7. ^'PGCB's Director of Compulsive and Problem Gambling Provides Lawmakers With Update on Agency's Assistance Efforts'. PGCB via Reuters. February 12, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2009.^{[dead link]}
8. ^http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/058/chapter501a/chap501atoc.html
9. ^'Casino Gaming Benefits for Pennsylvanians'. Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Retrieved January 16, 2019.

External links[edit]

Pa Gaming Commission Website

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board released a 10-page document Wednesday for casino operators outlining the minimum requirements that need to be fulfilled prior to reopening their facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click here to read the document.

Casinos are not permitted to reopen until the “green phase” of Pennsylvania’s reopening plan.

Pa Casino Gaming Commission Address

The guidelines include a requirement for all patrons entering a casino to wear a mask that covers the nose and mouth areas. Patrons are also discouraged from wearing hats in the casino.

Casinos will be required to place markings on the floor in all areas where patrons may form lines for entry or services to maintain social distancing of six feet in between all patrons.

For slot machines, casinos will be required to promote social distancing by installing a plexiglass barrier between machines, removing chairs from certain machines or disabling certain slot machines to create distance between operating machines. Sanitizing wipes will also have to be available for players to clean a slot machine before playing.

For table games, casinos will be required to maintain increased distance between players at each table. Poker rooms are not authorized to operate due to players handling cards and chips. The PGCB said poker room operations will be reexamined based upon changing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

Social distancing will also be required at sports wagering areas. Floor markings must be implemented to maintain six feet between patrons, and ticket writers will have to wear a mask and gloves or have a plexiglass barrier installed between the ticket writer and patron at the ticket counter.

Pa State Gaming Control Board

Valet services will also be required to discontinue until revised guidance is received.

“While these guidelines for casino operations will be subject to amendment as we move closer to a time of reopening, we believe this plan will be effective in mitigating and reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for all employees, patrons, and other guests,” Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Kevin O’Toole said in a news release.

O’Toole acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt Pennsylvania’s casino industry an unexpected and unprecedented blow over the last few months, and the PGCB is committed to assisting each of Pennsylvania’s licensed casino operators and facilities to reopen in a safe and efficient manner.

“We fully anticipate that we will work with the industry as it seeks to become, once again, an economic engine for Pennsylvania and to restore the first-rate entertainment facilities each of our licensees has developed,” O’Toole said.

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