Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to hold public hearing for Sands casino licence renewal

PA Gaming Control Board's public hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the Bethlehem Town Hall, 10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. Public is welcome and invited to participate.

Complete information on the hearing, including links to sign up to present oral comment at the hearing or to provide written comment prior to the hearing, is on the Board's website, under its Quick Links section of the home page. The deadline for registration to speak at this hearing is noon on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.

Pursuant to section 1326 of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, all licenses shall be subject to renewal every five years. The renewal application must include an update of the information since its last renewal.

To implement the renewal requirement, the Board utilizes a two-step process:

First, the April 5th public hearing will be held before the Director of the Office of Hearings and Appeals for the purpose of receiving documentary evidence, hearing testimony and building a record upon which the Board will base its licensing decision. The hearing record, along with a report from the Director of Hearings and Appeals, will be transmitted to the Board.

The second step is to hold a separate public hearing in Harrisburg at a later date where Sands Bethworks, LLC representatives will offer oral arguments and Board members can ask additional questions.

At the renewal hearing, the burden is on the renewal applicant to establish and demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, its eligibility and suitability for renewal of the gaming license. During the hearings, the renewal applicant will be given the opportunity to demonstrate, among other things, its good character, honesty and integrity; compliance with its statement of conditions; tax revenue generated; jobs created; amenities added since the last renewal; success in implementing its diversity plan; and involvement in the surrounding communities.

Following these proceedings, the Board will then be able to determine whether the licensee remains eligible and suitable consistent with the laws of the Commonwealth, and are otherwise qualified to have the license renewed for a five-year period.