HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania –- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Governor Edward G. Rendell
will kick off the 3rd annual Pennsylvania Gaming Congress & Racing Forum
with a Keynote Address on March 13 at the Whitaker Center.
Governor Rendell has been a longtime advocate of bringing gaming to
Pennsylvania, and on July 5, 2004, realized this dream by signing the
Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act. The Act provides for
the development of 14 gaming facilities and up to 61,000 slot machines
throughout the state. Three racetrack casinos are now open, with two more
scheduled to open within the next three months, followed in 2008 by the
first of the Category 2 casinos.
The March 12-13 Pennsylvania Gaming Congress & Racing Forum, produced
by Spectrum Gaming Group and presented by Fox Rothschild LLP, annually
attracts more than 400 registrants, including casino and racing executives,
equipment manufacturers, analysts, investors, public officials, attorneys,
regulators and other industry-related professionals.
The conference program features a session with top executives from all
six licensed racinos, a panel of four of Wall Street's premier analysts, an
analysis of slot machine performance, a special presentation on casinos and
land-use fights, and a workshop for casino vendors.
"This is our third conference, but the first in which gaming is
actually underway in Pennsylvania. It could not be more fitting or
appropriate than to have the governor address a growing industry that he
fought to create," said Michael Pollock, managing director of Spectrum
Gaming Group, which founded and produces the annual event.
In addition to Governor Rendell, confirmed speakers include:
- Thomas A. Decker, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
- Sandi Vito, Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development, Pennsylvania
Department of Labor & Industry
- Executives from six licensed racetrack casinos
- Slot-machine experts from major manufacturers and the Gaming Control
Board
- Pre-eminent Wall Street gaming analysts
- Legal, governmental, regulatory and purchasing experts to advise casino
vendors
- Experts in winning zoning and land-use battles