Friday, March 24, 2006

State Sen. Robert M. "Tommy" Tomlinson, an architect of the Pennsylvania gaming act, will be a featured speaker at the 2nd annual Pennsylvania Gaming Congress on March 6-7.

Sen. Tomlinson, who engaged in a decade-long fight to authorize slot machines at racetracks, was instrumental in crafting and passing Act 71, which allows up to 61,000 slots in the Commonwealth. Gov. Ed Rendell signed the legislation July 5, 2004, at a ceremony hosted by Sen. Tomlinson at Philadelphia Park.

Sen. Tomlinson will be the Pennsylvania Gaming Congress keynote speaker at the conference's Monday night reception at the Whitaker Center here.

More than 400 gaming-related professionals from 25 states and provinces have registered to attend the Pennsylvania Gaming Congress, including officials from all 20 applicants for Pennsylvania Category I and Category II operator licenses.

The conference program includes sessions with Pennsylvania gaming regulators, Pennsylvania racino operators, Wall Street analysts, diversity experts, land-use and zoning experts, as well as the Keynote Luncheon and Exhibition Area.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Congress takes place at the spacious Whitaker Center and attached Harrisburg Hilton. Additional hotel rooms are available at the neighboring Crowne Plaza Harrisburg by calling (717) 234-5021 and asking for the "Pennsylvania Gaming Congress" rate.

Duane Morris LLP and Duane Morris Government Affairs are Presenting Sponsors of the Pennsylvania Gaming Congress. Contributing sponsors are: A.C. Coin & Slot, Aristocrat Technologies, Bally Gaming and Systems, Cooper Levenson, Cope Linder Architects, Cyberview Technology, Ernst & Young, Gaming Industry Observer, Global Gaming Business Weekly, International Game Technology, JCM American, Jefferies & Co., Keystone Gaming Alliance, Konami Gaming, Las Vegas Sands Corp., LPCiminelli Inc., MEI, Money Centers of America, Pocono Manor Resort & Casino, Radio PA Networks, SOSH Architects, Trump Entertainment Resorts, WMS Gaming and Vibrant Development.