Gaming Control Board denies Lawrence County’s casino license

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board followed Cyrus Pitre, the board’s chief enforcement counsel recommendation to deny or abandon Endeka Entertainment’s casino license application.

US.- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board denied Lawrence County’s casino license adopting a recommendation by Cyrus Pitre, the board’s chief enforcement counsel, to deny or abandon Endeka Entertainment’s casino license application.

After the unanimous vote, Gregory Fajt, Gaming Control Board Chairman said the board will issue a public statement, including justification and precise terminology for the decision.

“We fought the good fight,” said Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Vogler. “The people of Lawrence County and my fellow commissioners, past and present, we did all that we could to promote the project and advocate for the project.”

Endeka, a company led by Philadelphia produce retailer Joseph “The Tomato King” Procacci, had been trying to gain approval for a harness-racing track and casino in Mahoning Township, Lawrence County. Last year, the now-defunct state Harness Racing Commission, allowed Endeka to retain a harness racing license, but ordered that it would be revoked if the Gaming Control Board failed to award a casino license for Lawrence Downs. The state Racing Commission, successor of the Harness Racing Commission, will likely take that action later this month.

Had it been approved, Lawrence Downs would have been located near the intersection of state routes 551 and 422. The gambling venue would have the state’s only 1-mile harness racing track and a casino with 1,500 slot machines and 38 table games. Furthermore, projections indicated that Lawrence Downs would have created 1,337 jobs and 600 permanent positions.