Casino developer eyes table games at Rockingham Park

Casino developer eyes table games at Rockingham Park

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By MARK HAYWARD
New Hampshire Union Leader
Friday, Nov. 20, 2009

Manchester – While slot machines remain the focus of expanding gambling legislation, the middle of the gambling floor of a rebuilt Rockingham Park would be earmarked for table games such as roulette, blackjack and poker, the developer said last night.

William C. Wortman, a principal of Cannery Casino Resorts, said he wants the games of chance that now operate at Rockingham to continue.


"I absolutely believe there is room for expansion. I expect that will happen," said Wortman, who added that the table games would help his slot business. "It becomes more casino-like if you have table games."

Wortman spoke last night to about 20 Manchester-area state representatives who gathered at the Puritan Backroom with him and state Sen. Lou D'Allesandro to hear the particulars of expanded gambling in New Hampshire.

Last year, the Senate voted to allow slots in the state, but the House rejected the bill. So Wortman, a casino developer who owns 20 percent of the Rock, has been meeting with small groups of House members to pitch his $450 million development plans for Rockingham Park.

Last night, he bought them dinner at the Backroom and spoke for about 1 1/2 hours.

D'Allesandro said his legislation would require slot machine locations to permit charity gaming on premises, D'Allesandro said. He said the requirement is in order to get charities that rely on gambling to support his legislation.

"Charity gaming has just really ramped up in the last couple of years," D'Allesandro said. "The charities now depend on the gaming. You don't have any more penny sales."

Under state law, charities that sponsor gambling operations receive 35 percent of the post-payout earnings. The remainder goes to companies that provide the equipment, workers and space for the poker, bingo or other games.

Wortman plans to rebuild the Salem track in two phases. The first phase would house 5,000 slot machines and the charity-sponsored table games. He predicts his operation would generate $205 million for New Hampshire annually if Massachusetts did not enact Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal.

The second phase involves an entire rebuild of the current track and grandstands.

Wortman said he is doing so because nearly everyone reminisces about the lost thoroughbred racing at Rockingham Park.

"There is a desire to see this stuff. It won't be what it once was. It will never be what it once was," he said.

Rep. Steve Vaillancourt said he has no problem with horse racing. But he is against dog racing, and a legislative committee this week voted, 15-2, to prohibit it in the state. He worried that expanded gambling could revive dog tracks such as Seabrook and Belmont.

"As long as you are tied to the dog tracks, I will have to oppose this (legislation)," Vaillancourt said. Wortman said he and his company are not part of either track.

Wortman acknowledged that Moody's Investors Service recently downgraded the ranking of debt he issued two years ago to build a combination horse track and casino in Pennsylvania. He said it is because the company is off its financial targets by "a little bit," but he is negotiating with his bank.

He said the company has never missed a payment.

He denied two other rumors: that Cannery Casinos wants to lower the 55 percent take the state gets from its slot machines in Pennsylvania and that he plans to sell the license for Rockingham Park.

The presentation lasted about two hours, and most of the questioning was friendly.

"I was totally impressed. I hope we pass this; the sooner the better," said Rep. Joan Flurey, D-Manchester. Asked whether the opponents of expanded gambling deserve a chance to be heard, she said D'Allesandro's proposal provides money to treat alcohol and gambling addiction.

"What are they going to say?" she said about the opponents. "They are going to say there are social issues."

She said revenue from expanded gambling should go to education.