Slots Still a Possibility

Supporters of slots at Rockingham Park made another plea yesterday for lawmakers to save the racetrack by adding slot machines. They say that without the slots the track will have to close, and this is a one of a kind monument to the state. Supporters say that “no one will come in and build [another] one” and that if lawmakers aren’t careful they will lose a landmark.

The general manager of the track, Ed Callahan, told them that the track will be sold within four years if they don’t add slots to it to support it. He met with the House Ways and Means Committee as they are trying to decide if the addition of slots to the state will solve the revenue problems that they are currently facing.

However, the committee said that the concerns for the track’s problems are taking a back seat to the arguments that bringing slots in could do for the state itself. They seem to be less concerned with how the slots could benefit the track then how they could benefit the state. They say that since the track is looking “pretty shabby” now, they will have to decide what is best for the state, not for the track.

The track’s owners are trying to sell it to Millennium Gaming, but they are only interested if slots are legal and they can turn it into a racino. Otherwise they have no desire to purchase just a race track. They have said that they will invest $400 million into the track if they are allowed to bring in 3,000 slots.




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