The Meadows Racetrack & Casino has been advertising "It's So Easy" as its theme to beckon slots players, but the new facility's opening has proved more difficult than expected.

One week after they set Tuesday as the opening for southwestern Pennsylvania's first casino, officials from The Meadows and Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced yesterday the debut would be postponed. No new premiere date was scheduled, but it could still be in early June. Invitation-only test operations benefiting nonprofit groups tomorrow and Sunday will also be delayed.

Spokesmen for the operator and regulator said the postponement was by mutual agreement, and related to concerns that the slots parlor's security system had to be enhanced. Testing of surveillance equipment yesterday showed malfunctions that were unacceptable even for the test run that had been planned tomorrow, since real money would be used by guests.

"From our standpoint, since the board's top priority is protecting the public, our agency will not approve opening the doors for gaming entertainment until we are 100 percent confident that all required monitoring systems work perfectly," said gaming board spokesman Doug Harbach.

He said the four slots casinos already open in Pennsylvania and the others that are pending are all required to have camera equipment that covers every spot of the gambling floor and can zoom in on activities surrounding each individual machine. In its temporary synthetic-fabric structure to be used through early 2009, The Meadows will have 1,738 machines, with customers expected to insert more than $1,000 daily into each.

The casino's spokesman, David La Torre, was reluctant to elaborate on security details.

"The bottom line is a couple of steps need to be made to ensure the security process operates properly," he said. "Considering The Meadows built a first-class casino in only six months, we're willing to wait a few days to make sure everything's set."

Both spokesmen said no other issues have arisen that would hinder scheduling of a new opening, once security equipment adjustments are made. Two new test days will again be slated, with part of the proceeds benefiting the Greater Washington County Food Bank and The Washington Hospital, before the facility could be opened to the public. Thousands of local residents already hold invitations through the two institutions to attend the now-postponed test runs.

Mr. Harbach said no similar security concerns have disrupted openings of the four racetrack casinos already operating in the state. Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie County encountered a delay of weeks for other reasons after announcing its opening date.

"We expect to have a new date sooner, rather than later," Mr. La Torre said, noting that the 425 employees of the temporary casino would continue their work and training on the payroll while the security issues are addressed.