Two Clinton County Truck Stops Approved for Video Gambling

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Wednesday gave its approval to placement of the first five truck stop video gambling terminals in the state and two of them went to Clinton County businesses.

They are Bald Eagle Truck Stop in McElhattan, just off I-180, and the Pit Stop Travel Plaza off Interstate 80 near Carroll. Other recipients are in Snow Shoe and Emlenton along Interstate 80 and the fifth is along Route 22 near Loretto.

The approvals stem from the state’s two-year-old gambling expansion law. Truck stops will be allowed to offer up to five “video gaming terminals” that will pay off similar to those found on casino floors across the state. Gaming Control Board executive director Kevin O’Toole said installation and operation of the new equipment is at least three months away.

Approved licensees will have to meet GCB regulations, including physical requirements, employee training and internal controls. Once those approvals are received, the state agency said, games can begin.

This week’s approval of five licenses was the first wave of the expanded gambling operation in the state. 58 such licenses are still pending, to be considered at future board meetings. Successful applicants have to have at least a three acre site and parking for 20 commercial vehicles.