Penn National is Out-Of-Touch and Deaf is they believe the 'Hollywood' name was the cause.
Support for Plainridge was justified, however flawed, because they were 'local' and supported the community. What has Penn National done for Bangor, Maine besides increase CRIME?
What has 'suitability' got to do with the legitimacy of HCAC transfer?
This is LAW, not public relations.
"Suitable"? "...never been rejected for a license based on suitability"? My they're setting the bar high, aren't they?
Posted: Thursday, September 5, 2013 2:38 pm
Penn National says it's 'suitable' for slots license
BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
PLAINVILLE — Penn National Gaming executives said today that their company has never been rejected for a gambling license based on suitability.
Executives of the Pennsylvania-based firm said they have been outbid for licenses and had a rezoning request rejected by the Town of Tewksbury, but authorities in 18 states have determined they are suitable applicants for gambling licenses.
The company owns 27 gambling properties, including race tracks, casinos, riverboats and racinos, across the country and Canada.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is expected to rule on Penn National’s suitability for a slot-machine license later this month.
The owners of Plainridge Racecourse in Plainville were rejected as a slot-machine applicant by the commission last month based on suitability. A commission investigation had discovered former Plainridge President Gary Piontkowski had taken $1.4 million in cash from the track’s money room.
Since that rejection, Penn National has obtained an option to buy the track on Route 1 and are applying for the same slot-machine license.
The option is conditional on Penn National winning the license from the state.
Meeting with The Sun Chronicle editorial board today, company officials said they have always been found by authorities to be suitable applicants, although they have not always won the bid for a license.
Senior Vice President Steven Snyder also said the company has never lost a license because of suitability.
The question of suitability is a critical one in Penn National’s application for slot machines because Plainville voters go to the polls Tuesday to decide on whether to approve expanded gambling at the track not knowing where the Gaming Commission’s background check stands.
The commission is sending out a letter to voters explaining that the suitability question will not be decided until after the town election.
Company executives covered the suitability issue and several others pertaining to the option to buy the track during the session with the newspaper editorial board, including the future name of the track.
Vice President of Public Affairs Eric Schippers said Penn National will maintain the Plainridge name for the track rather than go with the corporate title of Hollywood that it uses at many other properties.
He said the firm learned during its Tewksbury experience that local people do not like the Hollywood label.
Tewksbury residents had the sense to oppose a SLOT BARN!
Snyder also said the company would stick with most of the physical plans Plainridge owners had for building a slot machine parlor.
He said voters can rest assure that the plan presented to them by Plainridge over recent months will be the same one Penn National will go with.
There may be some minor interior changes, such as the type of restaurants and entrance ways, but the location and height of the building, a parking garage and traffic improvements will remain the same, he said.
Snyder also said the election Tuesday is a question on whether Plainville wants slot machines at the track and whether it approves of a host community agreement selectmen have signed on to.
The agreement calls for the owner of the track to pay the town about $4 million a year in fees and taxes if it gets a slots license.
Synder said the election is not a referendum on the company that owns the track.
Oh? It should be!
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