172 Lottery Machines Stay Dark as Operator Awaits Final Paperwork

The West Virginia Lottery Commission has not relicensed a Parkersburg-based video lottery operator, leaving 172 machines at 26 retail locations switched off. Trans-Allegheny Enterprises missed the relicensing deadline, and the commission decided at its Sept. 30 meeting not to renew the company's license.

At a commission meeting Wednesday morning at Mountaineer Racetrack & Casino in Chester, Trans-Allegheny Chief Officer Tom Fittro said the company has obtained two of the three items the commission requires for relicensing. "The tax return is completed, filed with tax (WV Tax Department), and we have a letter of good standing with tax," Fittro said. "Now we're just trying to get our compiled financial statements done."

Fittro told the commission last month that he had been sick, which delayed the work. He said the preparation of financial statements has since been slowed by accounting firms. "We contracted with two different accounting companies to get these financial statements completed and obviously we want to get this all done post-haste," Fittro said. "This has not been a pleasant experience." He also said last month that several jobs are tied to the video lottery machines he operates.

Lottery Commission Chairman Ken Greear said acting Lottery Director David Bradley would have the authority to relicense Trans-Allegheny before the November commission meeting, provided the final financial documents arrive and check out. Annual licenses for limited video lottery operators run from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.