In New Hampshire, the former Sears at Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua soon will be renamed the Mint gambling hall, featuring historical horse racing (HHR) machines, which the state legalized two years ago.
The venue is expected to open in late 2024, said developers ECL Entertainment and its partner, Toronto-based Clairvest. They earlier bought the Lucky Moose Casino and Tavern and the River Casino & Sports Bar, also featuring HHR, to create a “leading gaming operation in Southern New Hampshire,” officials said.
The city planning board will hear a request for a conditional use permit on August 3. City zoning allows “games of chance” on the Sears property, which opened in 1968 and closed in 2020. In a memo to the board, Deputy Planning Manager Linda McGhee wrote, “No exterior changes are proposed to the building. Both levels of the former Sears store will be utilized for various gaming, slots, poker, food and beverage. Some spaces will be leased to other tenants.”
Plans indicate the Mint will offer 1,200 to 1,500 slot machines and 62 table games. To date, Clairvest has invested $50 million into gambling locations, according to financial statements.
Ron Winchell is listed as president and Marc Falcone is vice president. In a news release, Falcone said the Mint is expected to become “one of the most sought-after HHR gaming platforms in the New Hampshire market.”
Rick Newman, a New Hampshire lobbyist for the gaming industry, added, “I believe New Hampshire is going to be a lucrative market for gaming with historical horseracing. I assume anyone in the business would be interested in being in New Hampshire.”
In 2018, Winchell and Falcone bought the turf horse racing track Kentucky Downs, located near the Kentucky and Tennessee border. It also offers an HHR venue under Mint name.
The New Hampshire Legislature passed HHR in June 2021, allowing 15 existing gaming operations to add the machines. In October 2022, Clairvest launched with 54 machines at the Lucky Moose Casino and Tavern. The state now has eight gaming facilities operating HHRmachines, including Boston Billiards Club, also in Nashua. Out-of-state operators also have gaming businesses in New Hampshire, including Boston Billiards Club, owned by Delaware North and Chasers Poker Room in Salem, owned by Kentucky-based Churchill Downs.
