HARRISBURG -- Gov. Ed Rendell yesterday named Mary DiGiacomo Colins, one of his former associates in the Philadelphia district attorney's office, to the final spot on the new Gaming Control Board that will oversee slot-machine gambling in Pennsylvania.

State police will take about 30 days to complete background checks on the seven appointees.

The gambling commission will eventually award slots licenses for 14 casinos around the state.

Colins, a Common Pleas Court judge in Philadelphia since 1989, will be the only woman on the board.

"Building an industry from the ground up will pose a challenge that I am pleased to have the opportunity to take on at this point in my career,'' Colins said.

She did not say whether she will take a leave of absence from the court so she can spend full time on gambling board work, as Rendell has asked his three appointees to do.

Colins, 55, worked as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia from 1985 to 1989, serving as the assistant chief of the economic crimes unit.

She received a master's degree in labor law from Temple University. Colins also received her law degree from Temple.

Rendell said Colins is a fair-minded judge and "a quality individual of impeccable character.''

Rendell vowed to make sure that all members of the gaming board were not white males, as happened with the Pittsburgh financial oversight board. He named one white man, one black man and one woman.

The others, chosen by legislative leaders, are all white males.

State police are creating a new unit, the Office of Gaming Enforcement, headed by Capt. Ronald Petyak, to check the backgrounds of board members. That is expected to be completed by the end of October. Then board members will begin meeting and hiring staff.

Applications from would-be casino operators will not be taken for at least a year.

The other Gaming Control Board members are:

Frank Friel, a former Philadelphia police officer and organized crime investigator. Named by Rendell, he will be the board chairman.

Sanford Rivers of Pittsburgh, a Carnegie Mellon University administrator and National Football League referee. Rendell also chose him.

Joseph Marshall III of Philadelphia, chairman of the Temple University Health System. He was named by House Speaker John Perzel, a Philadelphia Republican.

Former state Rep. Jeffrey Coy, a Shippensburg Democrat who just resigned his House seat so he could be on the board. He was named by House Democratic Leader H. William DeWeese, D-Waynesburg.

Scranton lawyer William Conaboy, named by Senate Democratic Leader Robert Mellow, D-Lackawanna.

Pittsburgh FBI agent Kenneth McCabe, named by Senate President Pro Tem Robert Jubelirer, R-Altoona.