FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MTR GAMING GROUP APPOINTS JOHN BITTNER CFO AND MICHAEL HAGER
DIRECTOR OF WEST VIRGINIA RESORT OPERATIONS
CHESTER, WV – January 9, 2002 – MTR Gaming Group,
Inc. (Nasdaq National Market:MNTG) today announced that John
W. Bittner, Jr., CPA, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer.
Additionally, to manage the existing and expanding resort operations
at its Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, MTR added
Michael Hager to its executive management team as Director
of Resort Operations, a newly created position.
Prior to joining MTR, from 1975 to 2000 Mr. Bittner was with
Ernst & Young LLP in its Pittsburgh office, and was admitted
to partnership in 1987. His primary responsibilities were directing
and providing accounting, auditing, and business advisory services
to publicly held, privately owned and not-for-profit organizations.
Mr. Bittner’s experience includes financial reporting
to the Securities and Exchange Commission, business acquisitions
and dispositions, due diligence, operational/project management,
debt offerings, restructurings and tax, regulatory and compliance
services. Mr. Bittner received his Bachelor of Science Degree
in Accounting from Duquesne University. During 2001, Mr. Bittner
was an accounting and financial consultant.
As Director of Resort Operations, Mr. Hager is responsible
for managing the hotel, convention center, food and beverage
services, spa & fitness center and golf facilities. With
over 27 years of management experience in hospitality and leisure
services in both the public and private sectors, Mike brings
to Mountaineer expertise in operations, revenue production,
cost control, staff training, guest satisfaction and the Total
Quality Management Concept.
For the last six and one-half years, Hager was with the Oglebay
Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia where he served as General
Manager/Director of Wilson Lodge and Conference Center prior
to assuming his most recent position as Executive Vice President
of Operations where he was responsible for all aspects of the
operating departments. While at Oglebay, Hager also served
as Adjunct Professor of the Hospitality & Leisure Service
Division in the School of Business Administration at West Liberty
State College and continues to serve on the business school’s
advisory board. Mr. Hager has also served as Assistant Manager/Executive
Staff at The Greenbrier. Mr. Hager received his Masters of
Business Administration from Wheeling Jesuit University; his
Bachelor of Science Degree in Resource Management from West
Virginia University and is a graduate of the General Manager’s
Program in the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University.
Mr. Hager also serves on The Ohio State University Advisory
Council for Hospitality and Event Centers.
Edson R. (Ted) Arneault, President and CEO of MTR Gaming Group,
stated, “John’s extensive financial experience
makes him an excellent choice as the Company’s CFO. I
believe he will be a valuable asset during this key stage of
the Company’s development. Additionally, as Mountaineer's
expansion progresses, our commitment to develop a nationally-acclaimed
resort necessitates an increased focus on resort operations.
We believe Mike will play a key role in the achievement of
this goal.”
About MTR Gaming Group
MTR Gaming Group owns and operates the Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort in Chester, West Virginia, which currently encompasses
a thoroughbred racetrack with off-track betting and export
simulcasting, 3,200 slot machines, 359 hotel rooms, golf course,
spa & fitness center, theater and events center, convention
center and fine dining and entertainment. The Company also
owns and operates the Ramada Inn and Speedway Casino in North
Las Vegas, and holds a license to build a new thoroughbred
racetrack with parimutuel wagering in Erie, Pennsylvania. MTR
is included on the Russell 2000® and Russell® 3000
Indexes. For more information, please visit www.mtrgaming.com. About Scioto Downs
Scioto Downs owns and operates a harness horse racing facility in Columbus,
OH. Major racing programs conducted at Scioto’s facilities include
the Little Brown Jug Preview, the Scarlet O’Hara, the Pink Bonnet,
the Ohio Sires Stakes events and Ohio Fair stakes events.
Except for historical information, this
press release contains forward-looking statements concerning,
among other things, the acquisition of Scioto Downs, Inc.
Such statements are based on MTR’s current plans and
expectations. Such statements are subject to a number of
risks and uncertainties that could cause the statements made
to be incorrect and/or for actual results to differ materially.
Those risks and uncertainties are described in the Company’s
periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
and with respect to the Scioto Downs acquisition are described
in the Merger Agreement, as amended, which is attached as
exhibits to the Company’s reports on Forms 8-K filed
December 24, 2002, March 5, 2003, and May 7, 2003. MTR’s
plans to build a racetrack in Erie, Pennsylvania remain subject
to the possibility of a legal challenge to the July 17, 2003
decision of the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission
reinstating the license (which was originally granted in
late 2002) and the risks associated with land acquisition,development,
construction and integration of new operations. The Company
does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statements,
except as may be required by law. |
