PLAINVILLE, Mass. -- A Pennsylvania-based gambling outfit announced moments ago that it has a deal to buy Plainridge Racecourse in Plainville, Mass.
The Plainville track's future was put into question in August when the Massachusetts Gaming Commission unexpectedly rejected its application for a slots-parlor license. Plainridge was seen as having the inside lane on securing the slots license until a commission inquiry uncovered financial irregularities at the track.
The slots license is one of four gambling licenses allowed under a proposal signed into law in 2011 by Massachusetts Governor Patrick.
The rejection of the Plainridge ownership's bid left Plainville residents in a quandary. They are set to vote Tuesday, Sept. 10, on the host-community agreement that is a prerequisite for a gambling license application to move forward.
Until Tuesday's announcement, it was unclear who would replace the original Plainridge ownership group as applicant. Penn National now will step in as track owner and applicant.
The gambling commission expects to award the slots-only license by December.
The gambling commission will award the remaining licenses, for full casinos in each of three separate Massachusetts regions later this year.