Penn National Gets Nod for MA Slots Parlor

PLAINVILLE, MA-The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has formally approved Penn National Gaming's bid to operate a slots parlor here, awarding the only such license in the state. The final approval Friday morning was contingent on Penn National accepting a slate of 18 conditions Friday morning. Penn National's next step will be to prepare for construction on the $225-million facility, with an eye toward opening it in 2015.

Penn National's proposal calls for a facility to be built on the grounds of Plainridge Race Course here, and will offer both harness racing and 1,250 slot machines along with other electronic gaming machines. It got the gaming commission's nod over rival proposals from the Cordish Cos., which sought to build a slots facility in Leominster; and from a partnership of Greenwood Racing and Raynham Park.

The Boston Globe reported that Wyomissing, PA-based Penn National was awarded the license on the strength of its experience running 27 gaming facilities. Further, the commission noted that the Penn National proposal would preserve harness racing in Massachusetts; Plainridge reportedly was in danger of closing before it partnered with Penn National.

Last year, Penn National had unsuccessfully sought one of the three casino licenses the gaming commission will award under 2011 legislation that legalized gambling in the state. To date, none of the casino licenses has been awarded, but decisions on casinos in Greater Boston and the western part of the state are expected sometime this spring, with a decision on a facility in southeastern Massachusetts coming at a later date.