Casino investor asks to drop ownership stake

A financial backer of the proposed USD 429 million Lawrence County casino and racetrack is asking the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to withdraw his casino license application.

Stephen Hilbert and his companies, MH Investors Gaming and MH Equity Managing Member II, petitioned the board in April to withdraw their applications.

Hilbert and MH will still supply funding for the Centaur Gaming project as part of a USD 1 billion financing packaging Centaur secured in October.

However, Hilbert will relinquish the option to become a part-owner in Valley View Downs.

According to the petition, Hilbert and the companies „do not now and will not in the future hold any equity interest in Centaur or Valley View.“

Representatives at M.H. Equity could not be reached immediately for comment.

Gaming Control Board spokesman Richard McGarvey said the board has not yet considered the petition and, as of Tuesday, was not scheduled to do so at its next meeting — the public hearing Thursday in Lawrence County where Centaur will present the Valley View Downs plans.