Slot Machine at the Meadows

Slot Machine at the Meadows

The widely known horse racing track The Meadows is planning to build a slot machine casino. While waiting for the construction works to finish, The Meadows will locate its slots machines at another track, Pocono Downs, which is near Wilkes-Barre, when they will obtain the license.

The Meadows is not the only racing track that has requested a slot machine license. Only in the state of Pennsylvania, six tracks have done it since the state legalized slot gambling. Licenses are expected to be issued by the Gaming Board by spring or summer. Initially they were expected by March or April but the Boards dispute over suppliers is delaying the process. Once they obtain the license, instead of looking for a temporary location, The Meadows plans to install slot machines when the casino will be finished, and this is expected to happen around 13 months after the issue of the license.

The Vice President of The Meadows said that the initial process is quite advanced. They are now waiting for the state Gaming Control Board to set a date for the issue of conditional licenses. He also said that the delay caused by the suppliers discussion could affect negatively in financing issues which are obviously pending issuing of conditional license.

The Meadows has to face some serious re-structure problems. First, the paddock must be relocated. Now it is located next to the grandstand, but when the casino will be built the paddock will be in the other side of the track. In the place of the paddock there will be a slots room and a new grandstand. In fact, the owner of the track Magna Entertainment Corp. has already initiated the engineering work regarding this relocation as well as the paperwork required. The Meadows expects to finish this project by spring. The estimated cost is 2 million dollars.