No Table-Games Vote for Charles Town

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A Penn National Gaming Inc. official said the company doesn't plan to ask voters this year to approve table games at Charles Town Races & Slots in West Virginia.

Jefferson County voters rejected table games in June 2007, and by law PNGI could have gone back to voters this year with another request. But company official John Finamore said polling shows area residents haven't changed their minds yet about the gaming expansion.

Finamore said the track needs table gambling to remain competitive now that Maryland is moving toward slot machines. Charles Town has about 5,000 video lottery terminals and offers a year-round racing program.

Finamore said revenue from the machines this fiscal year is about 6% below what it was for the same time period last year.

The other three racetracks in West Virginia have VLTs and table casinos as approved by local referendums.

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