The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today broke a logjam that has been delaying the approval of casino licenses and slot machine suppliers across the state.

The logjam broke when board member Jeff Coy dropped his push for the state to be divided into regions where suppliers could operate, which prevented the board from authorizing suppliers. Now, all suppliers will be able to operate anywhere in the state, which the other board members preferred.

With the regional issue eliminated, the board today approved licenses for 12 slots supplier/distributor companies, middlemen who will buy slot machines from manufacturers and sell them to casinos.

The decision clears the way for the board to begin issuing licenses to casino operators, beginning with race tracks as early as September and free-standing casinos by the end of the year. Operators couldn't be licensed until suppliers were approved.

The board's action came despite a vote in the state Senate last night to eliminate the requirement for slots suppliers.

Gaming Board Chairman Tad Decker said the board must enforce the 2004 Slots Law as it is written, which currently includes suppliers. If the General Assembly decides this week to delete the supplier requirement, the board would implement the rewritten law, he said. He declined to predict exactly what would happen, but he said there was a difference between approving supplier licenses and actually issuing them.

The board approved the 12 licenses today, but will not issue them for at least a week or two. The state house could consider on Friday the move to eliminate supplier licenses.