Penn National Gaming

The issue: Charles Town Races & Slots is preparing to ask for an election in Jefferson County in hopes of getting approval from county residents to have casino table games at the track. What happened: John Finamore, Senior Vice President of Regional Operations for Penn National Gaming Inc., which owns Charles Town Races & Slots, told the Jefferson County Commissioners Thursday morning that track owners have not picked an election date. But the issue will probably be addressed "soon," Finamore said.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - Charles Town Races & Slots has typically been a good neighbor, so its quest to add casino table games should be supported, according to the general sentiment at a public forum Thursday. About 30 people attended the public forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Jefferson County, and most were rather familiar and satisfied with the facility's operations. Several were affiliated with the track. Adding table games like blackjack and roulette to West Virginia tracks' offerings is necessary to keep them competitive, especially now that Pennsylvania is licensing slots parlors, said John V. Finamore, senior vice president of regional operations for Penn National Gaming Inc., which owns Charles Town Races & Slots.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Two Jefferson County lawmakers said Tuesday they think county residents might vote down a proposal to allow casino table games at Charles Town Races & Slots if there is no money set aside from table game revenues for local schools. The possibility of giving local schools a share of table game revenue has been one of the issues being discussed as the Legislature prepares to consider allowing the local track and three others in the state to have casino games such as blackjack, roulette and craps.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - A group of local elected officials, including three members of the Jefferson County Commission, met Wednesday and discussed taking a position on casino table games for Charles Town Races & Slots. At the council of governments meeting Wednesday at the Charles Town Visitors Center, members discussed a possible resolution on casino table games. Ranson Mayor David Hamill said the city wants to support the games and he discussed in a letter to the commission a possible resolution in support of table games.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Jefferson County residents would have the chance to vote on casino table games at Charles Town Races & Slots, but if approved, they would have to wait a minimum of five years before they could vote again on the games' fate at the track, according to a proposal discussed Monday. Track officials maintain they need to have casino table games to stay ahead of gambling competition in other states. A bill was considered in the Legislature earlier this year to allow casino table games at the state's four racetracks, but it was criticized by lawmakers and other officials because it proposed to take away the rights of Jefferson County voters to control gaming at the track through elections.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. Charles Town Races & Slots is committed to preserving horse racing, and the company that owns the oval plans about $200 million in improvements to the track if table games are added to the facility, a track official said Thursday. If table games are added at the track, a 500-room hotel would be built, as well as at least 25,000 square feet in conference meeting space, said Peter Carlino, chairman and chief executive officer of Penn National Gaming Inc., which owns the track.

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Saying Charles Town Races & Slots could be a "world-class destination" if it had casino table games, a track official told the Jefferson County Commission on Thursday that owners of the oval would pump another $150 million in improvements into the facility if it had table games. John Finamore, senior vice president of regional operations for Penn National Gaming Inc., which owns the local thoroughbred track, made the comments during a Jefferson County Commission meeting Thursday.

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - The idea of legalizing table games like poker and blackjack for Charles Town Races & Slots and other racing facilities in the state is getting cool reception from local lawmakers who say the area does not need the expanded gambling. Lawmakers say legislation allowing table games at the local track and three other racing facilities is likely to get another look in the Legislature, which begins its regular session Jan. 11. A bill that would let Kanawha, Jefferson, Hancock and Ohio counties vote on table games died at the end of the last legislative session, and officials believe the measure will be considered again in the upcoming session.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, the proponents of gambling in West Virginia didn't want to call the devices that patrons put their money into "slot machines. " Now operators of four racetrack casinos have thousands of machines they're not afraid to call "slots. " They do, however, profess to be afraid of Pennsylvania's pending entry into the gambling business. Their antidote? Up the ante, by offering "table games" such as poker, roulette and blackjack. Before any such additions are approved, we would like to see some research on how such games affect the percentage of gambling addicts in the population.

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - Jefferson County's low unemployment rate may be the sign of a strong economy, but it can be a challenge for big companies struggling to find enough workers, officials say. At Charles Town Races & Slots, there have been more than 100 job openings in recent months, said John Finamore, senior vice president of regional operations for Penn National Gaming Inc., which owns the track....