Waiting game begins for license to run track-casino

By Jeanne Starmack

Pennsylvania’s investigation of the racino developer will likely delay granting of a license until fall.

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A harness-racing track and casino complex in Mahoning Township won’t be built until its developer gets a state gaming license, and that license might not be granted until fall.

Valley View Downs, which will be built on 250 acres bounded by U.S. Route 422, Baird Road and Pa. Route 551, is getting closer to winning local approval from the township for the development.

It will include a casino, dining areas and a sports club in a 273,000-square-foot building. The complex also includes a mile-long racetrack. The Mahoning Township Planning Commission recommended approval of the plan last week.

Township supervisors will consider the project next, and they have the final vote.

Centaur Gaming Inc., of Indianapolis, is the developer. Centaur was granted a harness racing license in September, and it is also working on getting permits from the state and county for sewage discharge and wetlands remediation.

But the gaming license has been the subject of speculation: Why is it taking so long for the state gaming control board to issue this license?

Richard McGarvey, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board spokesman, said the board will investigate the backgrounds of Centaur and its owners.

The board will do a financial check to ensure the company has the money for the $400 million project and will make sure company owners have no criminal ties, McGarvey said.

Board members will come to Mahoning Township for a public hearing at 9 a.m. May 15 at the community center on U.S. Route 224.

There will also be a hearing later this year, he said, so the developer can give additional testimony.

The gaming board’s chairwoman, Mary DiGiacomo Colins, previously said the board will issue a decision on the license by the fall, McGarvey said.

Centaur spokesman Rick Kelly said after the developer presented its site plan to the Lawrence County Planning Department in February that it hoped to have the gaming license by this spring.

He said Thursday that Centaur would like to break ground at the earliest opportunity, but understands that the gaming control board has to perform “due diligence.”

People who want to speak at the May public meeting are encouraged to sign up at least two days ahead of time on the board’s Web site, www.pgcb.state.pa.us. Sign-up forms will also be available at the community center, McGarvey said.

People can also submit written comments up to 60 days after the hearing. County commissioners said at a meeting in February that they believed the state would want to issue the gaming license as quickly as possible. Commissioner Dan Vogler said then that there are no controversies surrounding the development, and the county is “welcoming it with open arms.”

The complex is expected to draw people from all over the country. Room has been left on the site to later build a 300-room hotel, more restaurants, more casino floor space, meeting space, retail space and three parking garages.

The “racino” will create 1,500 construction jobs, officials have said, and 1,000 permanent full- and part-time jobs.

It is expected to generate $15 million a year in revenues for the county.