Citing competition from Rhode Island casinos and other regional gaming rivals, representatives of Plainridge Park testified September 14 before the Massachusetts’s legislature’s Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, asking for more slot machines and the addition of table games.
The Bay State’s single slot parlor is nearing its 10-year anniversary. It was the first casino to open after the state expanded gaming and has previously asked to be allowed to expand, but without success. It’s currently owned by Penn National Gaming.
Two bills are being considered by lawmakers, H 507 and H 532, which would permit but not instruct the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to allow as many as 30 table games and 250 additional slots.
A Plainridge supporter, Rep. Jeff Roy told colleagues: “Last session, we were concerned about the opening of the casino in Tiverton, Rhode Island, which happened two years ago. In this session, we also know that Rhode Island is planning a major expansion at Twin River. And that will put Plainridge and my communities at a further competitive disadvantage.”
He added, “We’re here to push for a modest expansion of Plainridge so that the commonwealth can best compete with our neighbors to the south, and we can protect the jobs, our local businesses, and the tax revenues that have been generated from Plainridge Park.”
Penn Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations Jeff Morris told the committee his company understands that it holds a slots-only license, “However, the one thing that changed that was how Rhode Island responded.” The requested change could lead to hundreds of new jobs, he said.
The law approved more than a decade ago created a framework of three resort casinos and one slot parlor. Only two of the resort casinos have been built, although Plainridge was the first casino on the scene.
