Plainridge vies for slot machines

Plainridge vies for slot machines
By PBN Staff

3/23/12
PLAINVILLE, Mass. – The Massachusetts horse track, Plainridge Racecourse, is asking the town of Plainville to negotiate a host community agreement that would bring slot machines to the site, according to the Sun Chronicle.

Town officials have been open-minded about bringing expanded gambling to Plainridge and there has been none of the controversy that has stifled attempts to bring a casino resort to nearby Foxboro, according to the newspaper.

The host community agreement would spell out the details of exactly what the Plainridge track can include in its gambling facility, what the impact on the town may be and what compensation would be set aside for the town.

A successful agreement would make Plainville the first place in Massachusetts to utilize the Bay State’s new law legalizing gambling.


Off and running
BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Friday, March 23, 2012

PLAINVILLE - Plans to bring slot machine gambling to Plainridge Racecourse are about to enter a new, serious phase with the track asking the town to negotiate a host community agreement.

With that move, Plainville is about to become the first city or town in Massachusetts to negotiate a gambling agreement in the wake of a new law allowing for the creation of one slot machine parlor and three casinos throughout the state.

The host community agreement would spell out details of what the track could do and how it might compensate the town for the impact the gambling facility might have.

Town residents would have to approve of the move in a referendum.

Plainridge hand-delivered a letter to Town Hall Wednesday formally asking to begin negotiations. Track officials will appear before selectmen Monday night to talk about it. "There are a number of points that require the applicant and host community to address, including the host community impact fee, and stipulations between us and you as the host community relating to our operations," Plainridge President Gary Piontkowski said in the letter.

Town officials have so far expressed an open mind about bringing expanded gambling to Plainridge. There has been none of the controversy with Plainridge's proposal that has marred attempts to bring a resort casino to nearby Foxboro.

Plainville Town Administrator Joseph Fernandes said he has been trying to prepare for eventual negotiations by studying the new state gambling law passed late last year. He has also talked casually with officials in other states that have slot machine parlors.

However, he emphasized the process of awarding slot machine and casino licenses in Massachusetts is new and no town has struck an agreement yet, or even entered into negotiations.

"We are trying to familiarize ourselves with the process, given the fact that no one has done this before," he said.

He said selectmen will want to know what impact a slot machine parlor might have on traffic, public safety and other areas. Then, the board would want the track to help mitigate those issues. Fernandes said the board might want to hire a consultant to give it professional help.

"In my humble opinion, we need some outside help on this," he said. "We don't have anyone to copy locally."

Plainridge is going all out to convince voters that a slot parlor, or racino, would be good for the town.

Piontkowski has said the track intends to build a 1,000-vehicle parking garage this summer and would like to make improvements to Route 1 to prevent traffic problems.

Plainridge officials and consulting engineers have met with the state Department of Transportation to outline a proposal to create left-turn lanes into the track property from Route 1 South.

Piontkowski has also said the track owners intend to spend $160 million on improvements to the property, and that financing is already in place.

The track has opened a public information office on South Street to give voters updates on plans for the racino.

So far, Plainridge is the only party to publicly state it would definitely apply for the one slot machine license available from the state gaming commission.