Decision on State’s Only Slot Parlor Expected This Week

This week is an important one when it comes to whether or not we see legal gambling in the Bay State.

In the Southeastern Massachusetts suburbs, Plainridge will find out if it’s awarded the state’s lone slot parlor license by Friday, Feb. 28. On Tuesday, Revere voters take to the polls to vote for or against a proposed Mohegan Sun casino at Suffolk Downs.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission also plans to release the results of its months-long evaluation process during a series of public meetings leading up to the decision by week’s end on the state’s first slot parlor.

By week’s end, Plainridge and Penn National will also find out if they have the approval to go forward with its planned PlainRidge Park Casino in the Plainridge Racecourse site on Rte. 1 in Plainville Massachusetts.

There is only one slot parlor license available for the state of Massachusetts.

The state gaming commission is expected to announce the winner of the state’s only slot parlor license, which will allow the recipient to provide up to 1,250 slot machines but no gaming tables. Two other properties are also in consideration: Raynham Park (the former dog-racing track) and Cordish Cos (a family owned Maryland company) which is proposing a slot parlor in Leominster.

Last September, Plainridge Racecourse owners reached a deal to sell the track to Penn National conditional on the gaming company getting the approval from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Four towns surrounding the current Plainridge location had to sign off on a community agreement with Penn National. In December, Foxborough was the fourth and final town to do so. Penn National needed this support to go forward in the process of obtaining the state’s only slot parlor licence for the harness racing track.

Last summer, Penn National failed to get community support for a slot parlor on a 30-acre lot off Ames Pond Drive in Tewksbury near the Andover line. In September, Tewksbury selectmen voted unanimously to cancel a planned Sept. 21 special referendum on casino gambling just three days after special Town Meeting voters turned down a slots-only casino proposal.

Revere Casino Vote Tuesday Critical to Next Steps

And the state’s first slot parlor isn’t the only casino news this week in Massachusetts.

On Tuesday, voters in Revere are heading to the polls to determine whether Mohegan Sun will be able to move forward with it’s proposed $1.3 billion resort casino at Suffolk Downs.

Massachusetts’ expanded gambling law allows for three regional resort casinos in the state.