The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has failed to make any progress resolving its differences over how to license slot machine distributors, also known as slot suppliers.

And it may be forced to extend its deadline for stand-alone casinos and resort hotel casinos to apply for a gaming license.

Chairman Tad Decker said yesterday that the seven-member board is still at odds over whether to divide the state into two regions for suppliers to operate in or whether to keep the state as a whole, where any interested slot machine supplier company could operate.

Commissioner Jeff Coy wants to have an eastern region and a western region, with different companies supplying and servicing slots in each region. He thinks that would lead to the creation of more companies and more jobs, which is one of the intents of the slots law passed in July 2004.

Mr. Decker said the ongoing dispute is pushing back the board's ability to issue gaming licenses for up to seven racetrack-casinos. The board had hoped to issue the licenses by March but now is looking at June at the earliest for issuing such licenses to The Meadows in Washington County and other tracks. Racetrack-casino applicants have until Dec. 28 to apply to the board for a license.

Mr. Decker said because of the complexity of the licensing process for stand-alone and resort hotel casinos, the board should delay its application deadline from the current Dec. 28 until March 1. But Commissioner Joseph Marshall said he wasn't ready yet to extend the deadline, saying the commission needs to act as soon as possible on the licenses so that casinos can get up and running. Even after it begins accepting applications, the panel still will have 12 months to issue a license. License applicants must post a $50 million bond for racetrack-casino licenses and stand-alone casino licenses, and some need more time to secure that funding.