Feb. 12 forum for groups seeking second city casino license

The six groups vying for the city's second casino license will have a chance to pitch their projects at the first public forum scheduled for Feb. 12 at 9 a.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board said the session only will be to disseminate information about the proposals in advance of public input hearings.

"It is important that the Board place as much information as possible in the public domain prior to accepting comment from citizens," said board chairman William H. Ryan Jr.

While the February session will not allow for public comment, hearings in April will include time for neighbors, government officials, community groups and other interested parties to provide input on the proposals, he added.

The board announced that those input hearings at the convention center will be held on April 11 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and April 12 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

If needed, the board will schedule additional days for public input.

Groups that want to address the board may begin registering through the gaming board's website on March 4. Commissioners also will accept written comments at that time.

Ryan said the full-day forum, coupled with information already posted on the gaming board's website, will "allow everyone the opportunity to see first-hand the plans for each of these casinos."

After the round of public input sessions in April, the board will schedule individual hearings to examine the suitability of each project. Those hearings have not yet been scheduled and will likely occur in the late summer or early fall, the gaming board said.

Under Pennsylvania law, groups that believe they have legal standing to intervene in the decision-making process - such as other licensed casino operators - will have to petition the board at least 45 days in advance of the suitability hearings.

The gaming board said the February 12th presentations and the April public hearings will be streamed live and also recorded for later viewing on the agency's website (www.gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov).

The applicants include three groups with projects proposed in South Philadelphia in the vicinity of Packer Avenue: Casino Revolution near Front and Packer; Hollywood Casino at 7th and Packer; and Live! Hotel and Casino at 9th and Packer.

Developer Bart Blatstein is pitching The Provence at Broad and Callowhill; casino operator Steve Wynn is supporting Wynn Philadelphia on the central Delaware River waterfront in Fishtown; and developer Ken Goldenberg has a Center City proposal at 800 Market Street.