Pennsylvania’s new truck-stop gaming market got closer to reality last week, as the state Gaming Control Board issued gaming licenses to five truck stops and gave conditional approval for 43 locations across the state to add up to five video gaming terminals each.
The first five “truck stop establishments” are spread throughout central and western Pennsylvania: Four sit generally along the Interstate 80 corridor in Emlenton, Snow Shoe, Loganton and McElhattan; and the fifth along Route 22 in Cambria County, near Loretto.
Under the 2017 gaming expansion law, retail locations can add five VGTs each if they meet established criteria as a truck stop. Such establishments must be situated on at least three acres of land, must be a Pennsylvania Lottery sales agent, must have a convenience store, must have no less than 20 parking spaces for commercial motor vehicles and must have diesel islands for refueling such vehicles. The establishments are also required to provide proof that they have sold or expect to sell an average of 50,000 gallons of diesel/biodiesel fuel on a monthly basis for a period of 12 months.
PGCB Executive Director Kevin O’Toole told board members at last week’s meeting that he expects the first gaming machines to be up and running at truck stops sometime this summer. Each licensee will have to meet physical requirements, get their employees who will be supervising the games licensed, and submit internal controls for review before going live.
Last week’s gaming board action leaves 58 VGT licenses pending across the state. O’Toole said those licenses will considered at future meetings. Five additional applicants have withdrawn, presumably because they are not able to meet some of the statutory requirements.
