First Mass. Slot Parlor To Open In Plainville This June
BOSTON (CBS) - Despite the brutal winter, the first slots parlor in Massachusetts is still scheduled to open on time this summer in Plainville, a few miles south of Gillette Stadium.
The vice president and general manager of the Plainridge Park Casino, Lance George, talked to WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Joe Mathieu Friday.
"The weather has cost us a few days, but we are back on track. We should be zeroing in on an exact date in the coming weeks, but we feel confident with a June opening," George said.
Along with 1,250 slot machines, the casino will feature the state's only live-harness horse racing track, a four-venue food court as well as former New England Patriot Doug Flutie's first restaurant, Flutie's Sports Pub.
The Plainridge Park Casino will create about 500 jobs. So far, George said that they have already received more than 4,000 applications to fill those positions.
As the first slots parlor to be licensed in the state, Plainridge Park will face challenges.
"There's pro and cons to being first. A lot of experiments are being tried on us and certainly on the regulatory side," George said.
Before the opening, there will be gaming agents and financial investigators there to handle licensing and background checks.
"We are certainly working hand-in-hand with these folks. We want to make sure we do everything correctly on our end and they are doing the same. It's been a collaborative effort," said George.
There will also be plenty of state and local police around, which is something George welcomes.
"At the beginning with all of the scrutiny and all of the concerns around this industry I don't think there is a downside," he said.
After receiving the slot parlor license on February 28, 2014, George is pleased with how quickly everything has come together despite having to deal with a record breaking winter.
"The weather cost us a few days, but we are back on track."
For more information on the Plainville Park Casino or to access the online employment application visit the state gaming website.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Joe Mathieu reports