Overview of ONE Club at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort including tier benefits and special offers for members. Slot Play To Reach; Bronze: 0: 499 -By.
| Location | New Cumberland, West Virginia |
|---|---|
| Owned by | Vici Properties |
| Operated by | Century Casinos |
| Date opened | May 19, 1951 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
| Notable races | West Virginia Derby |
| Official website | |
Waterford Park | |
| Location | WV 2, |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°34′49″N80°39′42″W / 40.58028°N 80.66167°WCoordinates: 40°34′49″N80°39′42″W / 40.58028°N 80.66167°W |
| Area | 77 acres (31 ha) |
| Built | 1949 |
| Architect | Boyle, A.J. |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001528[1] |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 2002 |
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort is a thoroughbred racetrack and casino resort located on the Ohio River north of New Cumberland, West Virginia. It is owned by Vici Properties and operated by Century Casinos. It is notable for being the first race track in the United States to get slot machines and become a racino.
History and information[edit]
Originally to be known as Waterford Downs, the track's parent company was incorporated in 1937.[2] The effort was led by Al Boyle, president of the Charles Town Races, who named it after his family's ancestral home of Waterford, Ireland.[3] The company's initial public offering was approved in February 1939, with the track expected to open the following September.[4] By August 1940, construction had not begun, but 250 acres of land had been bought or optioned.[5] In 1942, Boyle planned to begin construction of the track, but expected the grandstand to be delayed at least until 1943 by a steel shortage due to World War II.[6]
Construction was finally underway by July 1948, with opening scheduled for September 1949.[7] The name was changed to Waterford Park in 1950.[8] Opening day was finally held on May 19, 1951.[9][10]
In the mid-1950s, Boyle sold the track to James F. Edwards.[11] The Ogden Corporation acquired Edwards's holdings, including Waterford Park, in 1969.[12]
Best Paying Slots In Casinos
The track was purchased by Bill Blair and renamed as Mountaineer Park in 1987.[13] In 1992, Blair sold the track to California-based Excalibur Holding Co. for $4 million cash plus $2.7 million in stock.[14] The track was authorized to have slot machines and installed them in 1994. Excalibur was renamed Winners Entertainment, then renamed MTR Gaming Group.[15]
Mountaineer added casino table games on December 20, 2007, with 50 tables, including blackjack, three card poker, and roulette.
In 2019, Eldorado Resorts (which had merged with MTR Gaming in 2014) sold Mountaineer, along with two other properties, to Century Casinos and Vici Properties.[16] Century bought Mountaineer's operating business for $30 million, [17] while Vici bought the land and buildings for $97 million and leased them to Century.[18]
Physical attributes[edit]
The track has a main dirt track with a one-mile oval. The turf course is seven furlongs long and inside the dirt. The track is curved slightly in the front stretch. The track also has a large casino and resort on site.
The casino has 3,200 slot machines.
Racing[edit]
Mountaineer was one of the busiest Thoroughbred courses in the country with as many as 217 racing dates scheduled in year 2012. The Mountaineer live racing season had consisted of 4 to 5 nights per week, starting as early as March and ending as late as December. This had been reduced to 130 racing dates, running May through November by 2019 [19] The track had been able to offer purses much higher than those in neighboring states and attracted larger field and the products of such a higher parimutuel handle and better attendance. Over the past decade, competition from surrounding states increased, and purses have reduced. Mountaineer hosts the West Virginia Derby, a Grade III race that had significantly grown in stature and purse in the late 2000’s and early 2010’s to a Grade II race, but has also had its purse reduced and reverted to a Grade III race in recent years. The first Saturday in August traditionally has been the day the Derby takes place, and is the only day of the calendar that the track offers afternoon racing. Otherwise, the races are run at 7pm. Mountaineer had previously been considered as a possible host for the 2009 Breeders' Cup, but it was awarded to Santa Anita.[20]
The track runs many stakes and overnight handicaps. Here, in order, are the stakes that ran at Mountaineer in 2005:
Graded events[edit]
The following Graded events were held at Mountaineer Racetrack in 2019.
Grade III
Stakes events[edit]
- Coca-Cola Independence Day Stakes
- Mountain State Stakes
- Harvey Arneault Memorial Breeders' Cup Stakes
- West Virginia Senate President's Breeders' Cup
- West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker's Cup
- West Virginia Legislature Chairman's Cup
- West Virginia Secretary of State
- Mountaineer Juvenile Stakes
- Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies Stakes
- Fall Stakes
- Autumn Leaves Stakes
- Mountaineer Mile Handicap
- Sophomore Sprint Championship Stakes
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'National Register Information System'. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^'New race track given state O.K.'. Washington Post. October 10, 1937. ProQuest150879574. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
- ^Bill Bennings (December 4, 1938). 'At the Post'. Washington Post. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
- ^'New West Va. track sanctioned by SEC'. Washington Post. February 17, 1939. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
- ^'$500,000 race track work is set to begin this month'. Youngstown Vindicator. August 4, 1940.
- ^'Tract bought for race plant'. Youngstown Vindicator. January 2, 1942.
- ^Walter Haight (July 26, 1948). 'Night flat racing not new in Md'. Washington Post. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
- ^'Potpourri'. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 28, 1950.
- ^'Bill Bennings'. Washington Post. May 18, 1951. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
- ^'Tamale first at new track'. New York Times. May 20, 1951. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
- ^Tony Pierro (June 2, 1997). 'Mountaineer Race Track a runaway success'. State Journal. Charleston, WV. – via Factiva (subscription required)
- ^'Owner Of Waterford selling out'. Beaver County Times. January 17, 1969.
- ^Stephen Babich (June 30, 1987). 'New name, new bets at track'. Pittsburgh Press.
- ^'Sale of Mountaineer Park will stand'. Williamson Daily News. AP. December 1, 1992.
- ^MTR Gaming Group Company Profile
- ^Bailey Schulz (December 6, 2019). 'Eldorado Resorts closes 3 property sales for $385M'. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
- ^'Equity Purchase Agreement'. Century Casinos. June 17, 2019. Schedule I – via EDGAR.
- ^'Real Estate Purchase Agreement'. Vici Properties. June 17, 2019. p. 5 – via EDGAR.
- ^https://www.playwv.com/wv-2019-horse-racing/
- ^'09 Breeders' Cup to be held at Santa Anita
External links[edit]
Introduction to West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
West Virginia slot machine casino gambling consists of five casinos including one casino resort and four racetracks with slot machines. Many retailers have a few video lottery terminals.
The West Virginia state legislature has two sets of minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits depending upon the location of the gaming machine. Limited return statistics are available annually.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
Keep Reading … Or Watch Instead!
Or … Listen Instead!
Subscribe to my Professor Slots podcast at Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Amazon Audible | Gaana | Stitcher | Pandora | iHeart Radio | Tune-In | SoundCloud | RadioPublic | Deezer | RSS and everywhere else you find your podcasts!
Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in West Virginia*
The Best Slot Machines
The minimum legal gambling age in West Virginia depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 21
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 21
In 1994, West Virginia legalized video lottery terminals at their thoroughbred and greyhound racetracks. In 1999, West Virginia began allowing physical reel slot machines at licensed racetracks.
Machine restrictions at these pari-mutuel wagering facilities include approval by the local county and having only:
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Keno
- Many versions of poker
In 2001, West Virginia passed the Limited Video Lottery Act allowing bars and restaurants to have up to five video lottery terminals (VLTs) and fraternal organizations to have up to ten VLTs. The Act also restricted the state to a total of 9,000 VLTs.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in West Virginia
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in West Virginia.
Gaming Control Board in West Virginia
The West Virginia Lottery Commission controls VLT gaming regulations. This lottery was created in 1984 by amending the Constitution of West Virginia with Article VI, Section 36.
Afterward, West Virginia legalized VLTs with subsequent amendments, acts, rules, and statutes. Each statute is available in the West Virginia Lottery’s Rules and Regulations.
Casinos in West Virginia
There are four pari-mutuel racetracks and one casino resort in West Virginia, where their slot machines have 18 different games. In 2019, 1,303 commercial retailers each had between five and ten VLTs, offering eleven games.
The largest casino in West Virginia is Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races with 2,500 slot machines.
The second-largest casino is Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort with 1,525 slot machines.
Commercial Casinos in West Virginia
The four pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines in West Virginia are:
- Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town, 320 miles northeast of Charleston.
- Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Cross Lanes, 10 miles northwest of Charleston.
- Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in New Cumberland, 35 miles north of Wheeling.
- Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack in Wheeling.
The single casino resort in West Virginia is:
- The Casino Club at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, 120 miles southeast of Charleston
Tribal Casinos in West Virginia
West Virginia has no federally-recognized tribes and, therefore, no tribal casinos.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying West Virginia slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering West Virginia is:
- North: Maryland Slots and Pennsylvania Slots
- East and South: Virginia Slots
- West: Kentucky Slots and Ohio Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to West Virginia.
Our West Virginia Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in West Virginia? If so, join our West Virginia slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in West Virginia. Join us!
Payout Returns in West Virginia
West Virginia has two sets of theoretical payout limits including:
- Racetracks and casino resort: 80% and 99.9%
- Commercial retailers: 80% and 92% (or 95%, if approved)
Retailers must obtain individual permissions to have a greater than 92% payout. These high payout terminals must obtain Commission approval twice, including:
Written consent prior to manufacturing
Approval before applying for testing
From its 2019 Annual Report, the Commission reported the annual return statistics in West Virginia to be:
- Casino resort: 92.5%
- Racetracks: 89.6%
- Commercial Retailers: 92.1%
Summary of West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
West Virginia slot machine casino gambling consists of one casino resort, four racetracks, and 1,303 retailers with VLT-style gaming machines. Retailers may have up to five VLTs if a bar or tavern, and up to ten VLTs if a fraternal organization. Up to 18 different games are available on these VLTs, including slot machine game themes.
The minimum theoretical payout is 80% for all VLTs. The maximum theoretical payout is 99.9% for casinos, but 92% for retailers. With permissions, retailers can obtain a 95% maximum theoretical payout for specific VLT machines.
Annual Progress in West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Over the last year, there has been no change in the West Virginia gaming industry.
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Washington Slot Machine Casino Gambling
- Next: Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC