Pennsylvania Regulator Renews Two Casino Licenses

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The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has renewed licenses for both Presque Isle Downs and Casino and Hollywood Casino Morgantown.

Both licenses will run for a period of five years, allowing the casinos to continue operating in Pennsylvania. Hollywood Casino Morgantown holds a Category 4 license and Presque Isle a Category 1 license.

Presque Isle will continue to operate in Pennsylvania but will face additional conditions. This comes after the PGCB sought additional information on the financial health of the casino.

Comments from Presque Isle’s general manager suggested the casino could close in the near future due to financial issues. PGCB Chair Denise Smyler allayed any lasting fears over its future but said it will operate with certain conditions.

“The board is renewing this license,” she said. “While there will be conditions on Presque Isle requiring ongoing monitoring, we are confident Presque Isle, with the financial support of Churchill Downs, will continue to be open and, with ongoing modifications, we are hopeful will once again thrive.”

“Certainly, the board is going to take whatever steps it can to help make that happen.”

Since its opening in February 2007, Presque Isle has generated $2.52 billion in gross revenue from retail slot machines and table games, sports wagering and iGaming. It has returned to the state and local governments $1.52 billion in tax revenue, assessments and fees.

Presque Isle currently operates 1,525 slot machines and 31 table games while employing 482 persons.

No Concerns over Hollywood Casino Morgantown in Pennsylvania

There were no such issues when renewing the license for Hollywood Casino Morgantown.

Since its opening in December 2021, Hollywood Casino Morgantown has generated $315.7 million in gross revenue. This was spread across retail slot machines and table games, and sports wagering. During this time, the venue paid $143.9 million in tax.

At present, it operates 675 slot machines and 29 table games and employs 335 persons.

“In making the decision, the PGCB Board determined that Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association had fulfilled the obligations under the initial casino operator’s license,” the regulator said. “Therefore, it qualified to have this Category 4 license renewed.”