Tag: Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort

Former CEO to Market Racetrack and Casino Property

The former CEO of Mountaineer Racetrack & Casino is in charge of marketing the company’s surplus property in northern Hancock County.

The State Journal reports Ted Arneault will make about 1,300 acres of properties available for commercial and industrial development.

Arneault, who also served as the company’s chairman, says he’ll work with local municipalities Hancock County, state officials and private investors to bring business and industry to the area.

He says he believes energy, natural resource treatment and refinement, transportation and storage are resources for Hancock County markets.

Arneault added he has already been contacted by companies interested in the area, particularly by those servicing or supplying the natural gas processing industry.

Hancock County, Mountaineer Settle Dispute Over Hotel Tax

  Hancock County and Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort have settled a lawsuit over hotel occupancy tax collections.

The Weirton Daily Times reports that Mountaineer must pay the county at least $225,000 annually in hotel occupancy taxes for the next five years.

The 2012 lawsuit filed by the Hancock County sheriff sought to force Mountaineer to collect the state’s 6 percent hotel occupancy tax on complimentary rooms. Mountaineer had argued that it doesn’t have to collect the tax on complimentary rooms.

Mountaineer general counsel Anthony Carano says the resort is pleased to reach the settlement with the sheriff.

 

Mountaineer Casino Cuts 50 Days from Race Schedule

Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort is cutting 50 days from its 2015 racing schedule to avoid lowering average daily purses.

Mountaineer director of racing Rose Mary Williams tells The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register that the move will keep purses at the same level.

The racing year began March 1. Williams says racing will end on Oct. 17 instead of in December.

The West Virginia Racing Commission last week approved the resort’s request to reduce its racing schedule from 210 days to 160 days.

Earlier this year, the commission approved Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races’ request to reduce its racing days from 220 to 187.

Casino Plans Outdoor Smoking Patio to Comply with Ban

Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort plans to build an outdoor smoking patio that would have video lottery slot machines and gaming tables.

A countywide ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces goes into effect July 1. The ban adopted by the Hancock County Board of Health includes restaurants, bars, gaming facilities, hotels, public parks and concert venues.

The Weirton Daily Times reports that Eldorado Gaming Inc. chief operating officer Joseph L. Billhimer unveiled plans for the smoking patio to the health board on Tuesday. Eldorado is Mountaineer’s parent company.

Billhimer says the patio would have an estimated 119 video lottery slot machines and six gaming tables. It would be located in a former gaming area that currently isn’t being used.

Judge: Casino Must Collect Tax on Free Rooms

A judge says Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort has to collect the state hotel occupancy tax on complimentary rooms.

Hancock County Circuit Court Judge Ronald Wilson’s ruling came in a lawsuit filed against the resort by Hancock County in 2012.

The lawsuit sought to force Mountaineer to collect the 6 percent tax on rooms it gives gamblers for free. The lawsuit said the county has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax revenue.

Mountaineer said it doesn’t have to collect tax on complimentary rooms.

The Weirton Daily Times reports that Wilson granted the county’s request for summary judgment in the case on Monday. The county and Mountaineer will decide how much tax should be collected, along with damages owed.

Officials Mull Fewer Racing Days at W.Va. Tracks

  The state Racing Commission could request legislation to drop the number of days racetracks have to hold live races under law.

The Charleston Gazette reports that on Tuesday, the commission discussed reducing the required number of racing days to 185 at the state’s four racetracks.

Tracks face a 10 percent cut in state subsidies this budget year. Money from wagering is also on the decline. Racing Commissioner Bill Phillips said it’s clear that racing purses have dropped too much to maintain a full racing calendar.

The racetrack at Hollywood Casino in Charles Town and the state’s two greyhound tracks are required to have 220 racing days. Mountaineer Racetrack in Chester is required to have 210.

A vote on a resolution will likely come at the commission’s Oct. 14 meeting.

   

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