Slot Machines are Wheeling Away

Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center is relocating 390 of their 2,400 slot machines to a larger area. The slot machine casino has decided to put another $8 million into an expansion that would add 12,000 square feet of gambling space – with 16,000 square feet added in all. The slot machine casino is planning on starting construction in the next two weeks.

The tracks owners are hoping that legislators will approve table games to come in with the slot machines. With places like Pennsylvania legalizing slot machines, there is very little reason for people to drive further for West Virginia’s. People will continue to come play the slot machines in WV if the state allows them to play table games as well. They would like to see their legislators approve the bill, but opponents are in disagreement. They think the slot machines are bad enough, and they say that if table games are added they should be voted in by voters in all 55 counties – not just local voters.

Wheeling Island executives think that they will have a hard time surviving with just the slot machines if the table games are not approved. They say that all of the slot machine parlors will be forced to cut corners and start laying off employees as their slot machine revenue lessens. They know that Pennsylvanians are not going to travel to West Virginia if they have slot machines in their own backyard – they have to offer more if they want to compete.

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