Pennsylvania regulator schedules hearing for Presque Isle Downs & Casino license renewal

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has announced a license renewal hearing for Presque Isle Downs & Casino, scheduled for September 25 at the Summit Township Municipal Building in Erie. The hearing will mark the first renewal for the casino since a change of ownership in 2018 reset the renewal cycle.

Presque Isle Downs, now under the ownership of Churchill Downs Inc., last renewed its license in 2015. The renewal process is expected to follow a similar procedure to those recently undergone by Wind Creek Casino and Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

The hearing's first part will be open to the public, with opportunities for community members, public officials, and groups to provide input through oral or written testimony. Presque Isle Downs will present updates since its last renewal, and state agencies, including the Pennsylvania State Police, will participate in the proceedings.

Despite the rigorous process, no casino in Pennsylvania has been denied a license renewal to date. "No casino in the state has been denied a license renewal, but that doesn’t mean properties should take this protocol lightly,” said Doug Harbach, PGCB's Director of Communications.

The PGCB emphasized that casinos seeking renewal must meet strict standards. “The burden is on the renewal applicant to establish and demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, its eligibility and suitability for renewal of a gaming license,” the Board noted in a press release. Renewal considerations include the casino's good character, compliance with regulations, tax revenue generation, job creation, diversity plans, and community involvement.

The second part of the process will take place at a future PGCB meeting, where board members will gather additional evidence and ask further questions before making a final decision. If Presque Isle Downs is granted renewal, the next hearing will be scheduled for 2029.