The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced on Thursday the postponement of a Wind Creek license renewal hearing because of widespread power outages in the Bethlehem area. PGCB Communications Director Doug Harbach told PlayPennsylvania that the new date is July 31.
The original hearing was supposed to put Wind Creek Casino in the spotlight as it pleads its case to the PGCB for a renewed license. There hasn’t been a casino in the Keystone State that has been denied a renewal.
Strong storms push renewal hearing to July 31
Wind Creek’s license renewal had been scheduled since the beginning of the month, but the PGCB was forced to postpone the hearing.
“Due to severe damage from a storm in the Bethlehem area last evening resulting in wide-spread loss of power, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has cancelled the scheduled Wind Creek License Renewal hearing for today,” the PGCB said in a statement.
Severe thunderstorms ripped through the Bethlehem Township on Wednesday night as thousands woke up on Thursday morning without power. LehighValleyLive.com reported that Bethlehem City Hall, where the hearing was scheduled to take place at 10:30 a.m., did not have power.
Wind Creek has not had a license renewal hearing since 2018, which was interrupted because of the pandemic. Pennsylvania casinos are subject to renewals every five years. Wind Creek is going to wait a little bit longer than expected.
Wind Creek to address PGCB during hearing
Harbach told PlayPennsylvania earlier in the month that all eyes are on Wind Creek. The process of a renewal hearing is two parts.
“Wind Creek would make a presentation to update on what has occurred since last relicensing (2018) and future plans,” Harbach told PlayPennsylvania.
“Lawyers from Hearing and Appeals would ask questions as would Board members. Then additional presentations would be submitted by State Police and our Bureaus of Investigations and Enforcement and Casino Compliance.”
Today’s hearing, which was scheduled to be part one, was open to the public. It includes written or verbal testimony from citizens, public officials and community groups.
A second hearing would happen at a later date, examining Wind Creek’s presentation and ask any additional questions.
The PGCB issued a $125,000 fine to the Bethlehem casino last month for 10 incidents. The incidents involved 11 underage players gaining access to the gaming floor from 2021 t0 2023.
PGCB Chair, Denise Smyler, told Wind Creek executives that the topic of underage access will be brought up again.
“I know you’re having a license renewal hearing next month. We will probably be re-visiting this issue at that time,” she said last month during a monthly PGCB meeting in May.
