Pennsylvania regulators approve five-year renewal for Presque Isle Downs and Casino

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has unanimously approved the renewal of the Category 1 horse track casino license for PID, LLC, operator of Presque Isle Downs and Casino in Erie County, extending the license for an additional five years.

The board’s decision follows a comprehensive review process, confirming that PID, LLC met the obligations of its previous license. The renewal process included public input hearings, presentations from casino officials, and evaluations from state and local authorities.

In September 2024, a public input hearing was held in Summit Township, the casino’s host municipality. During the hearing, Presque Isle Downs personnel submitted evidence and provided testimony regarding the facility’s operations since its last license renewal. Members of the public were also given the opportunity to offer testimony on the casino’s impact on the community.

Additional information was gathered from state and local government officials, community groups, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the PGCB’s Office of Enforcement Counsel, Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement, Office of Compulsive and Problem Gaming, and Bureau of Casino Compliance.

A follow-up public hearing took place in Harrisburg in May 2025 and continued today, allowing board members to question representatives from Presque Isle Downs and its parent company, Churchill Downs, regarding financial and operational matters. The license renewal vote had been postponed in May after concerns arose about the casino’s financial stability, following remarks from the facility’s general manager that suggested a potential closure.

PGCB Chair Denise Smyler said that the license renewal was granted after a thorough financial review, assuring the public of the casino’s continued operation. She noted that the board’s staff, including the Financial Investigations Unit and the Office of Enforcement Counsel, provided the tools and analysis necessary for the review. 

Smyler also acknowledged that the extensive process may have caused concern for employees, suppliers, and patrons, but said the renewal ensures the casino will remain open for the next five years.

“We are confident that Presque Isle Downs, with the financial support of Churchill Downs behind it, will continue to be open and, with ongoing modifications, we are hopeful will once again thrive,” she added. “Certainly, the Board is going to take whatever steps it can to help make that happen.”

Since opening in February 2007, Presque Isle Downs and Casino has generated $2.52 billion in gross revenue from slot machines, table games, sports wagering, and iGaming, returning $1.52 billion to the Commonwealth in taxes, assessments, and fees. The casino currently operates 1,525 slot machines and 31 table games and employs 482 individuals.