The primary contractor for the North Shore casino will stay on the job for now, confident that a group led by Chicago billionaire Neil Bluhm will be able to complete a deal to take over the troubled project.

Dan Keating III, chairman of Philadelphia-based Keating Building Corp., said he had the right, as of yesterday, to terminate his contract with Don Barden's company, PITG Gaming LLC, but won't do so.

He said he believes that Mr. Bluhm and his group, Pittsburgh Gaming Holdings, are "very close" to closing on their financing and getting approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to assume control of the financially troubled casino project.

Mr. Keating said subcontractors on the project, who as of yesterday had the right to change the terms of their contracts, including possible price adjustments, agree with his position. For now, the status quo will remain, he said.

"Nobody is walking. We're all of the opinion and belief that this deal can be done and that ... [Mr. Bluhm's] a very good owner who is capable of financing it. If we didn't believe that, we would have pulled the plug already," he said.

The gaming board has yet to schedule a hearing on the request to transfer the Pittsburgh slots license from Mr. Barden to Mr. Bluhm's group, which is prepared to invest $170 million in equity in the project.

"All the relevant financial information has yet to be supplied to the board. We therefore are not yet in a position to set a date to continue the hearing," spokesman Doug Harbach said.

Mr. Keating, who has been privy to the discussions between the various parties involved, said he is hopeful that "things are close to getting done" and that if all goes well, he may be able to resume construction by the middle of next week or the following Monday.

Construction stopped at the site June 30 after Mr. Barden failed to secure permanent financing and was unable to make a $10 million payment due to workers. Subcontractors haven't been paid since April.

"All of us are committed to making this thing happen," Mr. Keating said. "Our cooperation is there. We are going to support this effort."

Mr. Keating wouldn't speculate on how long he's willing to wait for a decision by the gaming board. He said his goal is to keep the casino price tag as close to its current $800 million as possible and to have it completed by next July. He said he will continue to update subcontractors as the situation dictates.

The decision to stay on gives Mr. Bluhm and his group some breathing room to get gaming board approval for the license transfer without fear of losing their lead contractor or perhaps further escalating costs.

"It's in everyone's best interest -- us, the city, workers, the county, the bank -- to move process forward," said Dan Fee, Mr. Bluhm's spokesman.

Despite the various pleas for a quick resolution to the proposed ownership change, gaming board officials have said they would not be rushed into a decision.

Two state senators -- Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park, and Jane Orie, R-McCandless -- have urged the gaming board to revoke Mr. Barden's license and rebid it. House Republican leader Sam Smith also wants to see the license revoked and put under the control of a trusteeship.

However, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato have said they fear a possible rebid could take up to four years, costing both governments millions of dollars a year in casino revenues.

As part of the proposed transfer, Mr. Barden's ownership share would drop from 81 percent to 20 percent. Pittsburgh Gaming Holdings would become the majority owner.

Mr. Bluhm and Mr. Keating are partners in HSP Gaming, which won the state slots license to build the SugarHouse casino in Philadelphia. That project has been stalled because of neighborhood opposition.

State law bars one casino owner from owning more than one-third of another slots parlor in Pennsylvania. But Mr. Bluhm said his personal share of the Pittsburgh casino would be less than 1 percent.

Mr. Keating said 40 to 50 subcontractors are involved in the North Shore project. Some have yet to start work, while others are close to completing their assignments.