Operator News
US – MGC renews Plainridge Park Casino’s gaming license
By Phil - 1 October 2020
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has voted unanimously to renew the gaming license of Plainville Gaming and Redevelopment, LLC, d/b/a Plainridge Park Casino for a second five-year term, effective retroactively to June 24 2020. PPC—the state’s sole slots-only gaming facility (Category 2 licensee)—opened on 24 June 2015.
“On behalf of my fellow commissioners, I would like to congratulate Plainridge Park Casino on the renewal of their license. This represents an important milestone for both PPC and the Commonwealth, as this is the first casino to be relicensed under the state’s Expanded Gaming Act of 2011,” said Chair Cathy Judd-Stein. “PPC has generated approximately $381 million in tax revenue for the Commonwealth, 82 per cent of which goes to local aid for cities and towns in Massachusetts. They have created numerous jobs and been a responsible corporate citizen, supporting more than 100 community and charitable organisations in our state.”
A gaming license was issued by the MGC to Plainville Gaming and Redevelopment, LLC, d/b/a Plainridge Park Casino for the construction and operation of a Category 2 gaming establishment for an initial term of five years. That five-year term expired on June 24, 2020, and PPC submitted a timely application for renewal. The Commission engaged in a comprehensive renewal process in accordance with procedures established pursuant to G.L. c.23K, including a public hearing convened virtually on 16 September 2020 and written comments submitted to the Commission. Based on that input, there exists widespread support for PPC in the host and surrounding communities.
In making the determination to renew the Category 2 license for a second five-year term, the Commission found that PPC has been in material compliance with all conditions attached to the initial award of its gaming license, as amended by the Commission. The full order of renewal can be found here.
“We greatly appreciate the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s decision today to approve the relicensing of Plainridge Park Casino,” said Jay Snowden, President & CEO of Penn National Gaming. “The Commission has set high standards for the integrity of gaming and racing in Massachusetts, and we pledge to continue to uphold these principles over the next five years and beyond.”
As the first casino in Massachusetts, PPC implemented GameSense, a responsible gaming program that met the stringent expectations set forth by the Legislature and the MGC that measures be taken to minimise the effects of gambling harm on individuals, families, and communities while serving the good of the Commonwealth. In partnership with the MGC, PPC became the first casino in the United States to host an onsite responsible gaming information center. PPC is also the first casino in the nation to offer a budgeting tool, entitled PlayMyWay, designed to allow players the ability to monitor the amount of money they spend on slot machines.
During the construction period of the $250 million facility, PPC surpassed its diversity goals for contracts with Minority, Women and Veteran Owned businesses. More recently, in 2019, PPC exceeded all vendor diversity goals for the procurement of goods and services.
