Even as the state's first racetrack casinos open to robust business, Pittsburghers itching to play slot machines here are going to have to wait a little longer than anticipated.

The opening of the city's stand-alone casino on the North Shore has been pushed back several months to the summer of 2008 as the winner, Detroit businessman Don Barden, waits to see if either of the two losing bidders appeals the state-awarded slots license.

Mr. Barden originally had planned to open the Majestic Star casino between the Carnegie Science Center and the West End Bridge in March 2008.

However, spokesman Bob Oltmanns said yesterday that timetable no longer is viable because of the six weeks it took the state Gaming Control Board to issue its formal order on the license and because of the subsequent 30-day appeal period, which ends Monday.

Mr. Oltmanns said no one anticipated such a lengthy process when Mr. Barden was awarded the license Dec. 20 and vowed to have his $435 million Majestic Star casino on the bank of the Ohio River open in March 2008. Mr. Barden ditched plans for a temporary casino so that he could speed up construction of the permanent one.

"If you had told me Dec. 20 that we'd be sitting here March 1 still without a license, I don't know that anyone would have contemplated that," Mr. Oltmanns said.

From a practical standpoint, Mr. Barden's company, PITG Gaming, can't start construction or complete the purchase of the 17 acres of land the casino will sit on until the appeal period has expired, Mr. Oltmanns said.

Doug Harbach, a gaming control board spokesman, called the delay "disappointing."

"Any delay like this would hinder the benefits of gaming to the taxpayers of the commonwealth. We would hope they would do their best to accelerate their timetable back closer" to the original March opening, he said.

Mr. Harbach said the 30-day appeal period should have been factored into the casino's construction timetable. He also argued it would be unfair to blame the 41 days it took the gaming board to issue formal orders, which started the appeal period, for the "full extent of the delay."

"I don't think the reasons can be laid entirely at the doorstep of the gaming control board," he said.

The delay in opening the Pittsburgh casino could end up being even longer if either of the losing bidders, Forest City Enterprises or Isle of Capri Casinos Inc., files an appeal contesting the award of the license.

They have until the close of business Monday to do so, but they have given no indication what their decision will be. The appeals go directly to the state Supreme Court, in an effort to expedite the reviews.

To win, a losing applicant must show that the gaming control board "acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner" in awarding the license, Mr. Harbach said.

So far, only Pocono Manor Investors, the losing bidder for one of the two stand-alone casino licenses issued outside of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, has said it would appeal the board's decision.

Mr. Oltmanns said the schedule for opening the casino has always been 14 months from the end of the appeals process.

While awaiting that, PITG Gaming has pressed forward with architectural plans and has begun working with city planners. It hopes to move quickly to get started if there are no appeals.

Mr. Oltmanns said Mr. Barden has taken the delays with patience.

"He knew this was a possibility, I suppose. We're patient. We're optimistic and we're anxious to get going," he said.

Some construction experts have questioned whether PITG Gaming can build the casino in 14 months. Mr. Barden has vowed to do so through an accelerated schedule that would include double shifts six days a week. Even given that, some experts predicted the construction could take two years. Mr. Barden has stood by his estimate, however.