State Rep. Justin Simmons, R-131st, announced the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is making applications available for tavern gaming licenses starting Jan. 27, 2015. Applicants can find the form at www.lcb.state. pa.us.

Licensees interested in obtaining a tavern gaming license will first have to submit an application along with a set of fingerprints, federal criminal history summary and the applicable fees to the PLCB.

The agency will review the application and submit the information to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, which is responsible for conducting a thorough background check. Once the background check is completed, the PLCB has the statutory authority to approve or deny the license. Because the process is new and unfamiliar to most licensees, the PLCB and partner agencies will hold informational sessions at various locations across the Commonwealth prior to Jan. 27, 2015. All of the sessions will begin 1 p.m.

Locations in eastern Pennsylvania include: State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, Jan. 14, 2015; Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St., Philadelphia, Jan. 16, 2015; Best Western Plus Lehigh Valley Hotel and Conference Center, 300 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem, Jan. 17, 2015; Best Western Genetti Hotel and Conference Center, 77 E. Market St., Wilkes-Barre, Jan. 24, 2015.

Participants are en- couraged to register online at www.lcb. state. pa.us for the session most convenient for them.

Simmons also announced the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has extended the reporting deadline for small games of chance licensees. Because of the significant changes made to the Small Games of Chance Act, licensees will not be required to submit electronic annual reports to the department by Feb. 1, 2015. Reporting for 2014 will now be required by Feb. 1, 2015 for clubs with proceeds of $20,000 or more.

Access to the online reporting system will be available from the department's website in late 2014.