Lawrence Co. official: Panel gives go-ahead for racetrack, casino

Staff report

NEW CASTLE, Pa.

News that the Pennsylvania Harness Commission has given the go-ahead for a racetrack and casino off U.S. Route 422 in Mahoning Township means the licensing process is half over, Lawrence County Commissioner Dan Vogler said Friday.

He is hopeful the next stage of the process — getting a gaming license from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board — will go just as well or faster.

“We’re very grateful to the Harness Commission,” Vogler said. “They’ve been very supportive for locating it in Lawrence County.”

Vogler said he was notified Friday by Roy Wilt of the harness commission that American Harness Tracks Inc., which wants to build the track and casino, has satisfied two requirements the commission set earlier this year.

One was to show that it has at least $150 million in financing.

The other was a management plan.

The next step will be to apply to the Gaming Control Board. It has a larger staff than the harness commission, so it can review the application faster than the harness commission, Vogler said. He expects it to take “a number of months.”

“I’m very optimistic that this is moving much more close to reality,” Vogler said of the project, which would create the county’s second-largest employer if it becomes reality.

Lawrence County and Mahoning County in Ohio are both attempting to attract gambling businesses.

Penn National has outlined plans to locate a track with video slots in Austintown, while the Mahoning Valley Development Group is proposing a horse racetrack with slots in North Jackson.

If there is a race on between Lawrence and Mahoning counties to establish their racetrack first, Vogler says he would put his money on Lawrence.

“No disrespect to you in Ohio, but we’re ahead of the game,” Vogler said, pointing to the much greater length of time that Pennsylvania has had its gambling law on the books.