Dayton
Penn National has released its plans for the Hollywood Dayton Raceway to be built on the site of a former Delphi plant. Plans call for a 5/8 mile harness racetrack and a gaming building of up to 150,000 square feet. There will be up to 1,500 VLTs, an entertainment stage and several restaurants and bars. Construction is expected to begin in 2013 and be completed in 2014. The first hurdle has been cleared. The Dayton City Plan Board recommended approval of Penn National’s application to amend the city zoning map to allow for development of the racino. The City Commission, which has the final say, will vote in January.

Other hurdles remain.

• Penn National’s application to relocate Raceway Park from Toledo to Dayton must still be approved by the Ohio State Racing Commission;
• The racing commission has filed rules regarding the relocation with the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR), who must review for conflicts with existing law and rules. That could take place as early as JCARR’s December meeting;
• The Ohio Lottery Commission must approve of Penn National’s application for a VLT operator’s license;
• And the Ohio Roundtable has appealed a Franklin County Court of Common Pleas decision that tossed their lawsuit challenging the legality of VLTs at racetracks. No date to hear that appeal has been set yet.

Warren County
A $175 million racino to be built near I-75 could also begin construction in 2013 and be completed in 2014. The racino will feature a 5/8 mile harness racetrack. It will open with 1,800 VLTs, later expanding to 2,500 VLTs.

Warren County commissioners have approved plans for the development of the racino. Last week the Ohio State Racing Commission approved a horse racing permit for Miami Valley Gaming & Racing LLC. As with the Dayton racino, other hurdles still remain.

• The Ohio Lottery Commission must still issue a VLT operator’s license;
• The Racing Commission must approve of the relocation of the Lebanon Raceway from the Lebanon Fairgrounds.

And that pending appeal would affect this racino as well.

Austintown
The final hurdle for construction of a thoroughbred racetrack and casino was cleared when the Mahoning County Planning Commission approved an assembly of parcels. Site preparation of the Hollywood Slots at Mahoning Valley Race Course should begin this month and be completed in 2014. Penn National is relocating its racino from Beulah Park in Grove City to Austintown.