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West Virginia table gaming referendum bill signed

CHESTER, West Virginia -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- MTR Gaming Group, Inc. (NasdaqGS:MNTG) today announced that Governor Joe Manchin signed a bill providing for local referenda by which each of the four West Virginia counties having racetracks may authorize table gaming at that county's racetrack. The bill was approved during the recently concluded legislative session. The bill, HB 2718, permits table games provided that the racetrack's home county passes a referendum approving such games. MTR will pursue such a referendum in Hancock County, WV at the earliest practicable date.

Edson R. (Ted) Arneault, CEO of MTR Gaming Group, stated, "We are thrilled that the Legislature passed this bill and that Governor Manchin has signed it into law, reserving to the people of Hancock County the final say. If the voters approve table games, our plan is to add approximately 50 table games and 40 poker tables at Mountaineer. The addition of table games will also create approximately 500 jobs in Hancock County, an area suffering high unemployment due to a struggling steel industry.

"Initially, the tables at Mountaineer would be situated within our existing facility allowing a relatively fast start-up. We are enthusiastic about the prospect of offering table gaming to our existing customers, as well as drawing new customers who enjoy table games, and improving Mountaineer's overall competitive position."

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