Pa. Casino Board Solicits Applications For 2nd Philadelphia Gambling Hall
By Tony Romeo
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is reminding prospective developers that the deadline to apply for Philadelphia's second casino license is just three weeks away.
The deadline for applications for the casino license formerly held by Foxwoods investors (see related story) is November 15th. The Gaming Control Board says the application and all supporting materials must be physically delivered to the board's Harrisburg office by the close of business on the 15th.
On the surface, this process would seem to be less complicated, with only one license to be awarded, but board spokesman Doug Harbach says that's not necessarily so.
"I don't that we'll find the process will be any shorter than it was before. I think if anything, there will probably we even more due diligence," he tells KYW Newsradio.
And Harbach says that means it could take nine to 12 months for the board to award a license.
At least one developer, Bart Blatstein, is unveiling his proposal for a casino on North Broad Street, in the former Philadelphia Inquirer headquarters (see related story), but Harbach says the board won't comment on whether any applications have been received until after the deadline.
