PITTSBURGH -- Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato expressed frustration and skepticism when discussing a change in ownership of Pittsburgh's North Shore casino on Monday.

The casino’s current license owner is PITG Gaming, led by Detroit businessman Don Barden.

Last week Barden said that he couldn’t secure enough financing to complete the project.

A new group led by Chicago real-estate magnate Neil Bluhm has since signed an agreement and is set to gain control of the $780 million casino if the state approves the deal.

Under the new agreement, Barden would remain a 25 percent partner.

“I think everybody in this room, everybody in this town, we must be skeptical now based on the history to this point,” Onorato said. “Not skeptical of Mr. Bluhm – skeptical of the process.”

Onorato spoke with Bluhm by phone and may soon meet face-to-face with the billionaire and Barden’s other proposed new majority casino investors.

“Tell us who it is. Tell us everything about them -- where the money’s coming from. I’m as frustrated as anybody, and I think it says a lot about this process,” Onorato said.

The county executive isn’t taking sides on whether the Pittsburgh casino license should be opened to new competitive bidders.

“What I am going to demand is that the gaming board gives us a financially sound owner who’s going to do and follow through on all of the commitments – that’s the only thing I’m focusing on. If we get that, this region wins,” Onorato said.

“They have to be prepared to answer these questions: Who’s getting control of this license? Are they going to live up to the commitments that were made? When are they going to provide the date for these commitments? We’re going to ask these questions, and we’re going to want answers,” Onorato said.

A spokesman for the new casino investors said they hope to travel to Pittsburgh soon and meet with local officials.

The gaming control board still hasn't set a date for resuming its hearing on the license for the North Shore casino.

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