The Meadows Racetrack Gets Slot Machines

With the recent approval of introducing slot machines into Pennsylvania, as well as the current trend of community sentiment, it looks as if the world famous horse racetrack, The Meadows, will be getting slot machines for at least a temporary basis.  The Las Vegas based gambling and casino operator, Millennium Gaming Inc. is currently in an agreement with Magna Entertainment Corp. to purchase The Meadows at a cost of $225 million, pending approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Board to issue Millennium Gaming the necessary license to operate slot machines.

After a recent Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board hearing, it looked as if there was a majority of support for the move, which Millennium Gaming has brought Oaktree Capital Management into as well.  Representatives from Washington County's Tourism Promotion Agency as well as a large mix of business and tourism professionals and elected officials, including state senator Barry Stout, and Representative Tim Solobay (both Democrats),  supported the proposal at the meeting.  Also in attendance were members of the Meadowbrook Homeowner's Association (located near The Meadows), who despite concern over increased automobile traffic, showed a willingness to work with Millenium Gaming to insure that the impact of a bustling slot machine parlor is kept in check.

The hearing was held at the Omni William Penn Hotel, and actually drew more concern regarding three separate proposals for stand-alone slot machine facilities than the issue of permitting The Meadows to incorporate slot machines with their popular horseracing facilities, which will incidentally be improved as mandated by state law.  In addition to a 500 seat grandstand offering prime racetrack viewing from both indoors and outdoors, facilities used by breeders, trainers and riders will be improved.

If the license is approved, Millennium Gaming plans to build a temporary slot machine casino immediately next to the racetrack by the end of 2007, which will remain running until a larger, permanent facility containing four restaurants and a four-hundred seat theater opens in 2008.

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