Sep. 23--There is a "high probability" that Nemacolin Woodlands Resort will apply anew for a casino license if the state gaming law is rewritten to permit table games at resort-style casinos, a resort spokesman says.

Nemacolin, the upscale Fayette County hotel and hideaway, has been considering a new application for one of the state's two resort slots licenses since the spring, when it became apparent that the Fernwood Hotel & Resort in the Poconos was having trouble lining up financing for its project.

Then last week, legislators reached a tentative budget deal that would legalize table games such as roulette and blackjack at Pennsylvania's casinos. Right now, lawmakers aren't sure if the table games will be allowed at the resort casinos, too.

If they are, then there's a good chance that Nemacolin is back in the game, said Jeff Nobers, spokesman for the resort and 84 Lumber. But even if table games are reserved for only the racetrack and stand-alone casinos -- such as Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh -- "I wouldn't say it's a deal-killer," Mr. Nobers said.

When slots were legalized in 2004, the law allowed for 12 larger casinos, with thousands of slot machines, and two "resort" casinos, which would be permitted to operate no more than 500 slots. Nemacolin and Seven Springs Mountain Resort, in Champion, Pa., both applied for the resort license.

Both later withdrew their applications. Nemacolin said it couldn't make the project work financially, partly because of a requirement that all casino patrons spend at least $25 somewhere else on the resort before playing the slots. But that requirement also has been changed since 2004.

"If all these possibilities were on the table two years ago, we likely would not have withdrawn," Mr. Nobers said.

The building that was supposed to house Nemacolin's Old West-themed casino, once an outdoor apparel store, is being used as a family entertainment center called The WildSide.

Nemacolin won't be the only resort vying for what had once been Fernwood's prize to win. A Reading resort, the Crowne Plaza Reading Hotel, filed an application for the 500-machine license in July.

Bill Toland can be reached at btoland@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2625.

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