From CT to Maine, there's a lot of Casino News in New England!
While today's blog does not include news directly about Massachusetts and their on-going saga of Casino licensing, it seems everything points to the threat of lost revenue to the surrounding states from the three Casinos and one Slot-Parlor expected in the the Commonwealth.
"Common-wealth" Hmmm... Now that's an interesting term when it comes to New England Casino News. Will all the casinos in New England, including the future gambling properties in Mass, all find "common wealth?" We'll just have to wait and see.
But I digress (I always wanted to say that!)....here are the headlines!
New Hampshire - No Casino Soup for you!
The House Wednesday killed Gov. Maggie Hassan's pet proposal to bring casino gambling to New Hampshire and with it an estimated $80 million in revenue in the next two years and $130 million in gaming taxes in ensuing years. The House did further damage to the bill voting against reconsideration - meaning the bill cannot be resurrected in the current two-year session. The bill would have allowed 1,500 slot machines and 500 table games at a single location in southern New Hampshire. It would have created a commission to study the possibility of future gambling sites, such as Rockingham Park.
After 15 years of trying and failing, gambling interests believed as late as Wednesday morning this was the year they would finally break through and pass the bill, which had been passed by the Senate and had been believed to be fueled by concern about Massachusetts moving toward licensing casinos
Rhode Island - Blackjack, Roulette and Dice, Oh My!
Twin River, the Lincoln, R.I., slots parlor that's morphing into a full-fledged casino, took delivery Wednesday of a shipment of table games it plans to have up and running by the end of next month.
Three trucks bearing tables, dice, chips, cards and other equipment arrived overnight, and three more were expected today, John Taylor, Twin River's chairman, said in a phone interview. Space has been made to accommodate 66 table games, which include blackjack, craps, mini baccarat, roulette, a Big Six wheel and such poker-style card games as Let It Ride. No poker room is planned.
Maine - The Wait for Mint Juleps Continues
Oxford Casino still waits to be sold. Maine's Gambling Control Board has ruled that the Oxford Casino won't be asked to apply for a new operator's license if a sale to the company that owns the home of the Kentucky Derby is approved. Oxford Casino owners announced the $160 million sale in March to Churchill Downs Incorporated Properties, the parent company of Churchill Downs Racetrack. The sale process is still under way. It seems the hold up might be longer as the board is currently running a background investigation on Louisville, Ky.-based Churchill Downs.
Connecticut - Mass Interest
Foxwoods has been grappling with falling revenue and significant debt at its eastern Connecticut site and now must face down organized local opposition and strong competition in Massachusetts as it tries to expand in southern New England. Foxwoods is proposing a $1 billion, 300,000-square foot resort off I-495 in Milford, Mass., about 40 miles southwest of Boston. Plans call for about 4,725 slot machines, 125 table games, 350 hotel rooms, restaurants and other attractions. However, it seems Foxwoods will have even more hoops to go through in Milford than their neighbor in CT, Mohegan Sun, who is trying to get the western MA license in Palmer. Foxwoods has little choice but to jump into the Massachusetts market because many customers at the two Connecticut casinos are from Massachusetts, Foley said. By adding a Massachusetts casino, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun also would avoid ceding business to competitors.
In related news, Colorado developer David Nunes has rejoined the Foxwood-led consortium’s lead development team after resolving a dispute that erupted earlier this spring with the other partners. Nunes founded Crossroads Massachusetts LLC and acquired land in Milford, Mass. for the construction of a casino. Nunes will serve as chief development officer in the Foxwoods-led partnership.
That's all for now!
Binbin
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