I have spoken to a lot of local residents around jefferson county and the results have overwhelmingly supported the passage of the table games bill. When i say a lot, i mean more like 20-30, but these very same people 2 years ago were almost entirely against the bill.

Maybe its the failing economy, maybe its that the horseman and county have guaranteed a larger piece of the pie, but it looks like this bill is moving in the right direction.

If this bill does pass, what would you all like to see as far as # of tables in the poker room?

Do you think that they would make a super grande room like the borgata, or start with a smaller room like at the showboat?

MillConsole542

Penn National is awesome

The losers in Sheperdstown defeated the proposal last time. They may have trouble getting to the polls.

I was far too disappointed with the last vote results for me to even begin to think in this manner. But I feel your excitement and I understand your need to want to express it in discussion.

I also don't want to jinx anything.


I will say that as a strict tournament only player, I hope for as many tournaments as possible per day. Hopefully in the $50 to $100 buy-in range.

My guess is that the PA, WV legislation coming down the line will have the effect of scaring one group or both into legalizing to stave off the loss of revenue to the other state. This is extremely fortunate timing, and at least for residants of MD, there is looking to be one or two good options in the future.

+EV

And why do you believe this to be true sir?

I read something about an annual parade that may impede traffic or cause people to forgo the vote ?

NEVER

Found something interesting in a chat transcript. From Al Britton who is the CTRS GM:

TO: When will you announce the creation of the 500–600 jobs that you say table games will generate?

AB: If we succeed at the referendum, we will start recruiting and training immediately. It will take six months between recruitment and being up and running.

That is the first time I have seen any potential time-line discussed by an official before. That would put the opening possibly in May of '10.

As far the type of room I would be very happy with something like the poker room in Charleston. I think that the room could potentially be extremely busy especially on weekends. I hope they take the time to get it right and get the dealers/floor personnel trained properly. Of course that is assuming the residents give the ok this time, I hate to get ahead of myself though.

http://www.yesforjeffersoncounty.com/epic-chat

Hopefully soon.

Looks like the December vote approval will be known by September 25th. This article is a little unsettling, but I really find it hard to believe that the county would delay getting these 500+ jobs into the pipeline ASAP. Of course good judgment and government unfortunately aren't synonymous.

http://www.journal-news.net/page/con....html?nav=5006

Track officials want Dec. 5 for special vote

By Naomi Smoot, Journal staff writer

CHARLES TOWN - The application is in, but a decision has yet to be made on the date for the special election on whether table games should be permitted at Charles Town Races & Slots.

An application officially seeking a referendum on the issue was filed earlier this week with the Jefferson County clerk. Al Britton, the track's general manager, said he would like to see the vote take place Dec. 5.

This week, he appeared before members of the Jefferson County Commission. He stated earlier that he was attending the meeting to answer any potential questions board members might have about the election his company has requested.

Logistics of the election and the election's approval seemed to be the main concern that day, with most questions directed toward the county's election staff instead of Britton himself. Commissioners questioned county officials about their deadline for approving the referendum, particularly if they want to adhere to the company's request to hold the referendum on the first Saturday in December.

If they want to move forward with the vote on that date, Jefferson County Clerk Jennifer Maghan said the group will need to give its nod to the requested referendum by Sept. 25. Early voting would then get under way on Nov. 13 and conclude on Dec. 2.

Officials noted that first day of early voting will coincide with the first day of canvassing following a Nov. 7 vote on whether the county's current zoning ordinance should be replaced.

Officials agreed to defer action on the issue, following issues raised by residents on Thursday. Paul Rosa came before the group Thursday with concerns about whether Britton's appointment had been properly noticed to the public.

Resident Jeanine Watson addressed the group as well. She had concerns about the upcoming table games vote.

"I want Jefferson County to get the best deal there is in table games," she said.

Watson, who said she is involved in the horse racing industry and has lived in the county for numerous years, had reservations about the amount of funding from table games that is being allocated for local communities, as well as the amount of money from the games that will be given to local horsemen. She asked the commission to consider delaying the referendum by three months so West Virginia lawmakers could address some of the problems she sees in the bill when they return to Charleston.

Here is a link to a newspaper article from WV:

http://www.dailymail.com/News/200908060252

Don't know, based on previous posts, if the December 5 vote will happen.

I only read the first and last page of this discussion so if this is rhetorical ... my apologies. The attached can be found on Penn Gaming's website under news. On a separate note, it's kind of sad that I'm getting so excited about getting legal poker four hours from the house .... I live in poker hell (eastern, NC).

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....064&highlight=

The vote date is now official. Time for the fine people of Jefferson county to say yes or no to table games. I hope it is YES.

Jefferson County Table Games Referendum Vote Set for December 5th
Thu, 09/17/2009 - 22:27

Jefferson County Table Games Referendum Vote Set for December 5th

NBC 25 by Jamie Burke
Thursday, September 17, 2009
http://your4state.com/content/fulltext/?cid=80211

CHARLES TOWN, WV - Jefferson County residents are one step closer to deciding whether table games should come to Charles Town Races and Slots.

Voters previously turned down the table games referendum, but now it will be back on the ballot.

There was no opposition in the Jefferson County Commission as they voted to set the date for the table games referendum on December 5th.

Commissioner Patricia Noland believes the addition of table games is important for the health of the local economy.

She explains, "I believe if this referendum doesn't happen or they vote no on the referendum, it's going to jeopardize not only the income to Jefferson County but also an adverse effect on horse racing as well."

With the date now set, people who want to vote who are not registered to vote need to do so by November 16th. Residents can register at the courthouse or the DMV.

County officials say people who register at the DMV should check with voter registration to make sure their application has been received.

There will be absentee and early voting available to residents. Early voting starts on November 13th through December 2nd at the Jefferson County Courthouse.

http://www.yesforjeffersoncounty.com...t-december-5th

Here is a second story on the same issue but with additional details.

http://www.journal-news.net/page/con....html?nav=5006

Table games vote slated to take place on Dec. 5
By Naomi Smoot / Journal Staff Writer
POSTED: September 18, 2009

FAST FACTS

Jefferson County's commissioners officially set the first Saturday in December, Dec. 5, for the referendum on table games at Charles Town Races & Slots. Early voting will be from Nov. 13 to Dec. 2.

CHARLES TOWN - Jefferson County's commissioners have unanimously approved a Dec. 5 vote on table games.

On Thursday, commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the referendum date that had been requested by Charles Town Races & Slots.

The election will be financed by the company, and will give residents in Jefferson County a chance to determine whether they would like to see games like poker and blackjack added at the local racino.

It will be the second time that area voters will have had a chance to cast ballots on the matter. Residents headed to the polls in June 2007 as well. At that time, they soundly rejected the proposal.

This time around, a group of residents has gathered to push the games, something officials with the race track said they would need to see in order to put the issue back before voters.

At least one member of the County Commission, Patsy Noland, has publicly acknowledged she plans to vote in favor of the proposal.

According to Al Britton, the facility's general manager, the games have the potential to bring as much as $6.5 million worth of additional tax revenues to the county, its board of education and area municipalities.

"We are excited that Jefferson County residents will soon have the opportunity to vote for table games," he stated in a release issued later Thursday noting that table games have the potential to create new jobs, and help protect the 1,200 existing positions at the track.

Still, some have reservations about the proposal.

Members of the commission noted that there are reports showing slots revenues could decrease as a result of the addition of table games.

Others noted concerns that have been expressed about whether legislation pertaining to the games gives a fair shake to local horsemen.

"This commission has expressed a concern, I believe all of us have, many times, about protection of the horse racing industry in this county," said Commissioner Frances Morgan, adding that there are some in the community who fear the games won't be beneficial for those in the horse industry.

Jeanine Watson is among those individuals, she said during the commission's public comment period Thursday morning.

She expressed her reservations about the bill, and its implications for local horse racing. She urged Charles Town Races & Slots to hold off on the vote until legislators could work to make changes that she said are necessary.

"This is a costly bill, the way it's written for Jefferson County. We can make it so much better. We can make it like the slots bill," Watson said.

If changes are made, she added, everyone could get on board with the gaming proposal, and "make this the best little horse house in the country."

These guys are already screwed. They had their chance, passed, and now it looks like PA is going to eat their lunch.

I doubt the horse and dog tracks of WVA will be able to compete with the big casino companies for business if PA passes table games as soon as they seem to want to.

+EV

It just keeps getting better. This May we'll be playing poker...

That's great news and they're right about the money this will bring in.

BOATLOADS.

The DC/Baltimore area has an incredible amount of poker players who aren't gonna mind the drive one bit.

I don't want to count my chips while I'm at the table though, there's still the tiny matter of a vote.

Dirty elections can happen anywhere.

It is actually a parade that is held anually by the city of Charles Town where the track itself is located.

Some have looked to the parade as possibly impeding voters from making it to the polls. However, im assuming though that this was all taken into consideration and the track could have set the vote for essentially any day they wanted. Some of the table game supporters are making that case that because of the extra people being out for the parade, there will be more voters at the ready to try and push this puppy through.

I dont know this for fact, but I would assume that they will take every step necessary to assure that everyone who wants to vote will be able to. Mobile poll stations anyone!!!!??

There are actually two Christmas parades, one in Charles town in the afternoon and one in Shepardstwon in the morning. The people from the track and count council don't think it will be a big issue with the vote, and some believe that since people are already out, they will be more likely to vote. Also, Jefferson county allows early voting at the courthouse for a few weeks before the election, hopefully alot of people will take advantage of that.

Well the casinos are running TV ads now. Not too badly made either...

I recently heard this too. You must live in or around Charles Town. Perhaps you can give periodic updates here on the mood of the poeple, how things might be going, etc.

This ran in Northern VA. I think it was a local channel, but not sure.

A new article in the journal about table games:

CHARLES TOWN - Charles Town Races & Slots on Monday hosted the first of what likely will be many town hall meetings concerning the hotly-debated table games referendum in Jefferson County.

The public meeting was held in the facility's banquet room.

CTRS General Manager Al Britton presented a number of reasons why voting "yes" in the election on Dec. 5 would greatly benefit the county.

The election will be the second opportunity for Jefferson County residents to cast their vote on the matter. In 2007, a majority of voters sided against the proposal, which would bring card games like poker and blackjack to the casino, which currently offers horse racing and slots......

Here's the link:
http://www.journal-news.net/page/con....html?nav=5006

Two of the three comments on the article were against table games. I have been hearing positive radio commercials lately, but to be honest no one I "hang around" with is talking about table games. I don't think this is a done deal, the people who don't gamble have to have a reason to vote (or they will just not vote), the more money for the county schools is increased, but so will traffic in a very narrow traffic corridor. The people against gambling in general are always going to come out and vote No. That was proven last time. Penn National needs to really really increase the exposure to the issue in the next 5 weeks.

Thanks for sharing Jay67.

Another new article about the vote. If you haven't looked at the comments (for this article or the one Jay67 posted) I think it is worth your time so you can see there are some really adamant people out there against table games in Jefferson County.

http://www.journal-news.net/page/con....html?nav=5006

Britton touts table games
Racino hosts second town hall meeting

By Naomi Smoot, Journal staff writer
POSTED: October 21, 2009

CHARLES TOWN - Downstairs, hundreds of slot machines dinged noisily away as patrons at Charles Town Races & Slots sat hoping to win the big one.

Upstairs, meanwhile, company officials were making a pitch to local residents in hopes of winning one of their own.

Jefferson County residents will head to the polls Dec. 5 to determine whether table games such as black jack, poker and roulette should be added to the facility's offerings.

If they are, Al Britton, the facility's general manager, said it could generate 500 new jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenues for Jefferson County, local schools and area municipalities.

"We talk about ourselves as an economic engine, and I think we have a very compelling story," Britton told those on hand Tuesday evening for the second town hall meeting the racino hosted on the issue this week....