Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato will meet with top Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board officials tomorrow to discuss the status of the stalled North Shore casino project.

Mr. Onorato wants to know when the board will decide whether to transfer the Pittsburgh slots license, awarded to Don Barden in December 2006, to a new group headed by Chicago billionaire Neil Bluhm, spokesman Kevin Evanto said.

"I think he wants some basic answers. He wants to know the timeline they're operating on, some idea when they might have a full board meeting to approve or reject or whatever they're going to do with Mr. Bluhm," Mr. Evanto said.

"Obviously it would be in everybody's interest to have a decision sooner rather than later. He wants to understand their process and where they are in the process."

Mr. Bluhm and his group have been pressing the board for a quick decision. Mr. Bluhm said last week international lender Credit Suisse, which gave Mr. Barden a $200 million bridge loan to start construction of the casino, could force the project into bankruptcy as early as Wednesday. Mr. Barden, unable to secure permanent financing for the project, has defaulted on the loan.

So far, the gaming board has yet to schedule a hearing to make a decision on the transfer. Spokesman Doug Harbach said today officials were still receiving and reviewing information from Mr. Bluhm and his group. He could not say when a hearing would be held.

He added the board was aware of the potential deadlines the group was facing.

"Certainly we would like to have this scenario play out where the casino is built on time and at that location. We're just not going to be hurried into a decision without all the proper information," Mr. Harbach said.

Among those Mr. Onorato and Mr. Ravenstahl will be meeting with are gaming board acting executive director Frank Donahue and acting chief counsel Doug Sherman.

In a related matter, a proposed city planning commission vote on casino amenities, including a riverfront amphitheater and boat docks, has been postponed from tomorrow until Sept. 9.

"As you know, Pittsburgh Gaming Holdings has proposed that it make certain investments in the casino. We are currently considering their proposal. My client believes that it would be prudent to delay action until we have concluded our discussions," wrote Deborah Rouse, attorney for Mr. Barden.

Mr. Bluhm has pledged to build the amphitheater and docks with the casino, not postpone the amenities for several years as Mr. Barden has proposed.