Charles Town Races to build gaming addition

November 24, 2000

Charles Town Races to build gaming addition

By DAVE McMILLION / Staff Writer

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - A 10,000 square-foot addition will be constructed at Charles Town Races for a new slot machine gaming area, the track's president said Friday.

The announcement came as the track prepares this morning to open a new slot machine gaming area that has been under construction this year.

If the track gets state and county approval, it could begin building the addition in the spring and have it completed by the end of next year, said track president Jim Buchanan.

The addition will house 500 slot machines currently being kept in an enclosed tent outside the front entrance to the track, Buchanan said. After the machines are moved into the addition, the tent will be taken down.

The addition will not require a request for more slot machines at the track, Buchanan said. The track's limit for slot machines remains 2,000, he said.

Today at 10 a.m., the track will officially open a slot machine gaming area that features a Western theme, Buchanan said. The OK Corral Slots gaming area will also feature the Sundance Cafe, a restaurant that resembles a Southwestern grill, Buchanan said.

The 500 slot machines in the OK Corral Slots gaming area were approved by the West Virginia Lottery Commission in September, Buchanan said.

Last Saturday there was a "soft opening" for the new gaming area, with no advance notice or advertising.

"Everybody seems to like it. It a real pretty area," Buchanan said.

Track officials will cut a ribbon at the new gaming area today and then hold a VIP brunch on the third floor. During the brunch, Peter M. Carlino, chief executive officer for Penn National Gaming Inc., will unveil a "new master plan" for the track.

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