If eventually approved, Fernwood's casino, for resort guests only, would go in the Events Center at the south end of the complex

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today awarded one of two available slot operator licenses for a Category 3 resort to Valley Forge Convention Center Partners, L.P.

At the same time, the Board agreed to continue to consider the application filed by the Bushkill Group, Inc., operators of the Fernwood Hotel & Resort in the Poconos.  The Bushkill Group, Inc. is seeking to operate a slot machine facility at its Fernwood Hotel & Resort, a 440 acre hotel and recreational complex located on Route 209 in Bushkill, Monroe County.

While the application for Fernwood is still under consideration, the Board also reopened the Category 3 application process for a 90 day period beginning today in an effort to see if other qualified resorts would be interested in the license and could provide the Commonwealth with a better overall project with firm financial commitments.

“Despite the tightened credit market, Valley Forge was able to demonstrate to the Gaming Control Board that it has obtained firm financial commitments for its project,” said Chair Mary DiGiacomo Colins.

The Valley Forge Convention Center has 488 hotel rooms on 850,000 square feet of property. Valley Forge estimates that it will produce $74 million in annualized gross terminal revenue from slot machine play by its fifth year five of operation.

Colins added that an adjudication setting forth the reasons for the Board’s decision in granting Valley Forge a gaming license will be issued soon. Under the Gaming Act, any party with standing in the licensing decision would have 30 days to file an appeal of the Board’s decision to the State Supreme Court.

Initially, there were three applicants for the two Category 3 licenses.  Split Rock Resort, in Carbon County, withdrew last year, citing the economic downturn.

The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act permits the Board to award up to two licenses to a well-established resort hotel in order to create an additional patron amenity. Properties located in Pennsylvania that could qualify for a Category 3 license must be well-established resort hotels with no fewer than 275 guest rooms under common ownership, not located within 15 linear miles of any other licensed slot machine casino, and already offering substantial year-round recreational guest