The owners of SugarHouse Casino, in Fishtown, and Rivers Casino, in Pittsburgh, were fined $15,000 each by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for transferring ownership interests to newly created, unlicensed trusts without giving timely notice to regulators.
Chicago real estate investor Neil Bluhm is the biggest common denominator in the ownership groups behind the two casinos. The owners split the interest that used to be held by three trusts into six, according the Gaming Control Board, which approved the fines at a meeting Wednesday in Harrisburg.
"We respect the decision of the board," a spokesman for the casinos said.
The board also approved a plan by Harrah's Philadelphia to reduce the number slot machines in the Chester casino, by 12.5 percent to 2,450 from 2,800 slots as part of a $7.2 million project to reconfigure its gambling floor and revamp its food and beverage lineup.
Among the changes, Guy Fieri's Kitchen & Bar will replace Philly Tap & Tavern, according to Harra's presentation to the gaming board.