Wortman and Paulos Pushes for Slot Machines at the Rockingham Park

On January 13th, 2009, as both Bill Wortman and Bill Paulos know well, when you gamble, you will win and lose some. That seemed to be the situation with them last week as the Nevada Gaming Control Board gave its approval to the $1.8 billion buyout of their Cannery Casino Resorts by Crown Limited from Australia. But both men's efforts to offer slot machines at the Rockingham Park in Salem, New Hampshire, appeared to be unlikely after the New Hampshire House Speaker stated that she doubted that there were enough votes to approve expanded gaming in that state.

Millennium Gaming, which is formed from the partnership of Wortman and Paulos, has an option to acquire the horse racing track provided the state changed its consistent vote to not allow slot machines. In an interview with the longtime political columnist with the Manchester Union-Leader, John DiStaso, Speaker Norelli, who is a Democrat from Portsmouth, stated that despite the state's financial problems she doubted that the voters were there for the slot machines.

Norelli said that expanded gaming has never get more than minimum number of votes in the state house and she does not see that changing at the moment. Norelli said that the slots proposal might receive approval in the Senate but it would not receive approval in the house.

Thursday, 05 March 2009
Marissa Patterson