The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has voted to award the first casino gambling license in the state.
The gaming commission voted 3 to 2 Thursday to award a license to Penn National Gaming to operate a slot machine parlor at a harness race track in Plainville on the Rhode Island border. Penn beat out two competitors for the lone slot license allowed by state law. Commissioner Bruce Stebbins said the vote is a milestone.
"We're taking the next step in a long and lengthy process that's introducing gaming into the Commonwealth in the right way and at a level of success we all hope to achieve."
A majority of commissioners backed Penn’s proposal citing the company’s experience running 28 gaming facilities around the country, and the prospect of saving the horse race industry in Massachusetts.
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