Oct 18, 2006 By Josh Krysak 3 min read

With one of the two contenders dropping out of competition for two slot machine gambling license’s slated for resorts across the state, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa officials said Tuesday they are confident they will secure a permit for slot machines later this year. According to the Associated Press, the Nutting family, owners of Seven Springs Mountain Resort, have withdrawn their application for the gambling license because of a conflict with other business interests.

At a public hearing in early May, officials from Seven Springs presented their plans for a $5.5 million casino that would have housed 500 slot machines in a building adjoining the existing resort.

The Nutting family is the majority owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Major League Baseball prohibits owners from having a stake in gambling interests.

The family had tried to negotiate a way around the prohibition, but no deal was reached.

Robert Nutting, chief executive officer of Ogden Newspapers, said the resort will make an even greater long-term economic impact on the region without limited gaming

“Our focus is to improve upon what Seven Springs Mountain Resort is: a four-season, family-friendly resort that is absolutely committed to excellence in customer service and its stewardship of the environment,” Nutting said in an interview with the Associated Press. “We are committed to enhancing the resort experience with additional amenities and four-season attractions. A great example of this commitment is the new Superpipe and terrain park that will provide our guests with the premier snowboarding and extreme skiing experience in the east.”

Nemacolin is also pleased with Seven Spring’s decision.

“We are going to wait for the state’s decision, but we certainly have a lot of optimism that we are going to be granted a license,” Jeff Nobers, vice president of corporate communications for 84 Lumber Co., said Tuesday. “From our perspective, we have been confident all along.”

Maggie Hardy Magerko, president of 84 Lumber Co., owns the sprawling resort located in Farmington.

“Seven Springs not withstanding, we have felt confident that we would receive a license, whether they stayed in the mix or not,” Nobers said Tuesday. “What their withdrawal will do is potentially widen our geographical area in which we market.”

Nemacolin has proposed a $40 million casino with an western theme.

Architect S. Philip Hundley said 500 slot machines will be located in the center of the building that used to house the former Woodlands World on resort property. An old-fashioned saloon complete with swinging doors will sit off to the side and the building will also house a restaurant, an entertainment area with a stage and several shops.

If granted a gaming license, Nemacolin officials said they hope to have the casino operational 90 days.

“Without Seven Springs, it will be an advantage because it increases our marketing area where we have no competition,” Nobers said. “I mean we will compete to some degree with the Meadows and with the casino in Pittsburgh, but we can now expand our focus. We are going to make sure people know we are here.”

Nemacolin is slated for a public hearing regarding the license Oct. 25 in Harrisburg, Nobers said.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is expected to make decisions on gambling licenses by Dec. 20.

Nemacolin is one of 20 applicants across the state vying for 12 permanent licenses.

However, Seven Springs and Nemacolin were the only two resorts to file for two of the 12 gaming licenses classified for resorts.

With the withdrawal of Seven Springs, Nemacolin is now the only resort with an application for one of the two resort-class licenses.

Resort founder Joseph A. Hardy turned over control of Nemacolin in 2000 to Magerko.