HARRISBURG -- Western Pennsylvania gamblers who like to play table games should circle July 8 on their calendars, because that's the day when roulette, dice, poker and blackjack are due to start at the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, The Meadows racetrack/casino in Washington County and Presque Isle Downs racetrack/casino in Erie.

The state Gaming Control Board today released a schedule for the opening of table games in all nine casinos now operating in the state, with the three in western Pennsylvania coming first.

An eight-hour test period for live gambling will be held in the three casinos on July 6, with the results being evaluated July 7. If everything goes properly, table gaming will start July 8.

The casinos near Wilkes-Barre, Harrisburg and in the Poconos will start table games on July 13 and those in Bethlehem and the Philadelphia suburbs will start July 18.

All nine casinos have received a table games license from the board and have paid a one-time fee of $16.5 million, which is going into the state's general fund to help reduce the $1.23 billion budget deficit.

Kevin O'Toole, board director, said the roll-out schedule for table games was designed to ensure that no casino would make table games available to the public sooner than any other competitor in their region.

"We are going to be ready to go, no question, on July 8," said Meadows spokesman David LaTorre. "We are excited to be the first out of the gate in Pennsylvania."

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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