West Virginia to let bets ride
By JOSELYN KING/Special to The ReviewWHEELING - Officials at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort and at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack said they don't expect any roulette wheels to spin at proposed Ohio casinos for at least two years.
As such, they will let their bets ride on plans to attract gamblers from the Columbus and Cleveland markets.
Ohio voters on Tuesday approved Issue 3, which will allow one casino to be built in each of the following cities: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. The passage comes just as West Virginia's casino operators strive to compete against slot machines in nearby Pennsylvania and to make up for the loss of patronage by attracting gamblers from Ohio.
"Overall, it's too early to speculate on the market impact based on the fact there is opposition and proposed amendments that could come into play," said Kim Florence, spokeswoman at the Wheeling Island facility. "We do feel in Ohio it will take a couple of years to get up and running. During that time, we will continue to focus on our business plans and focus on the Ohio market as we've always intended to do.
"Pennsylvania and Ohio are our core audiences, and we will take advantage of any time we might have as this unfolds," she added. "We will continue to monitor efforts to build casinos in Ohio. As this unfolds, we will plan accordingly."
The MTR Gaming Group, owner of Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort in Chester, W.Va., had actively campaigned against Issue 3. The company also owns Scioto Downs in Columbus and wishes to have casino-style gambling there.
Tamara Pettit, spokeswoman for Mountaineer, said Wednesday that MTR will continue to look at ways to develop Scioto Downs.
"We already have dealt with the introduction of competition as The Meadows has gone online with slots," she said. "The passage of Issue 3 will add to an already competitive market."
Pettit said Mountaineer "will continue to offer the most diverse entertainment experience" with the addition of shows and other offerings at the track.
"In recent months, we have been focused on customer experience," she noted.
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maria43920
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11-07-09 3:14 AM
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Dear Namdogtag, Just to let you in on something, Mountaineer its self has no say so in who wins or loses, the state regulates the payouts. The machines hit when a certain percentage is met. There also has been many jackpots paid out over the last month, my mother was there two weeks ago and hit 2,500 on a .50 machine. I feel that it is wrong of you to say Mountaineer will rob you and that you hope they fold. Many employees depend on the customers business, this is their only income. I am sorry that you did not have a good time and win something when you were there but to me it sounds as though you are being a sore loser. You can’t go to a casino and expect to come out a winner every time it’s just not going to happen. There are other things that you could have done and had a great time with. So before you say that you hope Mountaineer folds just think about the people that will no longer have an income to support their families with.
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namdogtag
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11-05-09 2:20 PM
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LET MOUNTAINEER FOLD. I AM NOT A HEAVY GAMBLER, AND HAVE BEEN TO A CASINO NO MORE THAN 6 TIMES A YEAR. NOT ONLY ME BUT ALOT OF DISGUSTED LOSERS COMPLAIN THAT MOUNTAINEER DOES NOT PAY OUT. WHILE BEING THERE, I NEVER HEARD A JACKPOT NOISE GOING OFF NOWHERE. THEY ROB YOU OF YOUR MONEY AND NOW CRY FOR BUSINESS. LET EM FOLD! UNTIL THEY WAKE UP AND ALLOW A FEW WINNERS HERE AND THERE. I KNOW ILL NEVER PATRONIZE THAT PLACE AGAIN. NO, IM NOT A SORE LOSER, MOUNTAINEER IS!
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