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President and General Manager of Wheeling Island racetrack in West Virginia, Jim Simms, has no regrets about supplementing his slot machines with table game offerings. 

“Table gambling has created a great deal of excitement here in Wheeling. ... We have definitely benefited from it, said Simms.

Unfortunately Simms cannot afford to have his mind at ease with the threats rounding the corner from Pennsylvania.  Slot machines currently operating at the Meadow Racetrack and Casino near Washington, Pennsylvania are providing more and more competition.  More slot machines are expected to be appearing in Pittsburgh when a new gambling venue opens in August. 

“The tables helped us gain revenue that we otherwise would have lost. ... Part of the reason we needed table gambling was because so many of our customers come from Pennsylvania,” continued Simms.

Mountaineer Racetrack and Casino is another successful gambling venue in West Virginia the recently added table games for 2008.  According to spokesperson Tamara Pettit, table games have complimented earnings from slot machines nicely.

“Table gaming has certainly enhanced our offerings. It has allowed us to attract many new and different customers than we otherwise would have been able to attract,” said Pettit.

Meanwhile in Pennsylvania Michael Graninger, vice president and general manager of The Meadows announced that this spring the track will be opening an all new building with room enough for 3,000 slot machines.  Up to this time, the tracks in West Virginia only had to compete with 1,800 slot machines at the Meadows.  The Mountaineer currently operates about 3,000 slot machines, while Wheeling Island only offers 1,900 slot machines.

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