MetroWest495 Biz

The first Massachusetts gambling location, the Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, opened in late June and, so far, things seem to be going smoothly enough. The facility, with more than 1,200 slot machines, live and simulcast harness racing and several bars and restaurants, pulled in $6.1 million in gambling revenues alone during its first week in operation, according to the state Gaming Commission. The com - mission estimates Plainridge will make about $200 million in gross gaming revenues in its first year of operation. For now, a lone wolf Michele Collins, the slots parlor's vice president for marketing, said that since this is the first gambling facility in the state, management didn't know for sure how much business to expect. But she said so far Plainridge has been pleased with the reception it's gotten. "Just opening a large facility in a market as large as Massachusetts and being the only one means things are busy," she said in an email. "Because this has never happened here before every day offers new experiences and there is a natural learning curve. But it's also very exciting for all of us to be a part of something like this." Plainville Town Administrator Joseph Fernandes said there were some traffic backups on opening day, but since then he hasn't gotten any complaints about congestion or other problems around Plainridge Park. "I think there will be impact, but nothing that is so dramatic as to be measurable," he said. Jack Lank, president of the United Regional Chamber of Commerce, which covers Plainville, said there were typical traffic headaches during the con - struction of the slots parlor, but things seemed to calm down once that was over. A new highway ramp and traffic lights have kept traffic under control, he said. And Lank said he's hearing good things from local restaurants, hotels, and convenience stores about the initial economic impact on the area. "I think it has had a tremendous ripple effect on all of our local busi- nesses," he said. "Everybody's still in the honeymoon stage." Lank said the chamber started working with the company behind the slots parlor, Penn National Gam- ing Inc., long before Plainridge Park opened, facilitating partnerships with local businesses. The Wrentham Vil- lage Premium Outlets shopping area, for example, stands to gain from the tourists drawn to the slots parlor. "Say you come down with your other half, and they don't want to play the slots," Lank said. "Well, they have a shuttle that can take you down there. You can do some shopping." A decline in lotto sales for Plainridge neighbors? One group of businesses with some reason to fear Plainridge Park is agents for the state lottery, particularly bars, restaurants and stores that offer Keno games. Michael Sweeney, interim direc- tor of the state lottery, said his staff is closely monitoring sales around the slots parlor. Speaking just a few weeks after Plainridge Park opened, he said the numbers are too prelimi- nary to draw solid conclusions, but there has been a measurable decline in lottery sales within a 15-mile radius of the slots parlor. Depending on the product, the drop has been between 2 percent and 6 percent, Sweeney said. On the other hand, Plainridge Park itself acts as a lottery agent for the state, selling instant game tickets in its gift shop, as well as hosting lottery machines in the lobby and Keno in 16 MetroWest495 Biz | August 2015 BY LIVIA GERSHON Special to MetroWest495Biz I n 2008, then-Gov. Deval Patrick proposed a law allowing casino gambling in the state. For the next seven years, the issue was the subject of almost constant controversy. Supporters argued that Massachusetts casinos would create good jobs and bring in tax money while stemming the flow of locals to out-of-state slot machines and poker tables. Opponents warned of growing gambling addiction, increased crime and an oversaturation of casinos in the Northeast that would keep them from being the cash cows residents were promised. P H O T O S / E D D C O T E Early reports are positive, but some wait for more data Critics remain, but Plainridge Park debut mostly quiet The Plainridge Park slots parlot in Plainville opened in June.

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