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Exec Pitches Table Games for West Virginia Tracks3 June 2002CHESTER, West Virginia – As reported by the Associated Press: "Adding table games to West Virginia's four racetracks would create hundreds of high-paying jobs, satisfy demands of slot machine players and boost business by at least 20 percent, the president of Mountaineer Racetrack & Gaming Resort says. "Ted Arneault said last week that he will soon start to seek support for legislation that could introduced in 2003 or 2004. The bill would let tracks offer live versions of poker, blackjack and other games that patrons now play on touch-screen machines. "`There's no difference other than that one is being done manually and one is being done through the video format,' Arneault said. `We're already there doing these games, but when it's done live, it's more of a social atmosphere.' "…West Virginia's racetracks -- Mountaineer, Charles Town Races & Slots, Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming in Nitro and Wheeling Downs -- have a combined 11,000 slot machines. To keep gamblers interested, they constantly upgrade and offer new games. "…Gambling proponents, however, say table games are the next logical step for the racetracks and would keep West Virginia ahead of surrounding states that are likely to approve gambling soon. "…As many as 300 dealers would be hired at the four tracks, with salaries ranging between $40,000 and $50,000. "While table games require more labor and money to operate than slot machines, they also provide a `more congenial atmosphere' that gamblers want…" |