The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) held a public hearing in Plainville, Massachusetts, on Thursday, May 1, to gather public input on Plainridge Park Casino’s (PPC) license renewal. This decision will determine the future of the state’s first casino for the next five years.

PPC is a Category 2 gaming licensee and, per Massachusetts state law, must renew its license every five years. This process includes a public hearing for the community to offer testimony during the review, which commissioners consider when making their decision on license renewal. The hearing, held at Plainville Town Hall, gathered Plainville town officials, PPC employees, representatives from the surrounding communities, and members of the public.

PPC kicked off the hearing with a presentation to the Commission covering the casino’s activities since the last license renewal in 2020. The presentation covered important milestones of the last five years and recapped the casino’s gaming/racing activity and finances, highlighting that PPC has generated over $338 million in tax revenue for the Commonwealth.

As part of their presentation, PPC also covered their impact on the local communities.

“We’ve [PPC] supported over 50 charities and communities,” PPC’s VP of Marketing, Stephen Bradford, said. “We also host seasonal guest and staff events that include donations for pet supplies, toys during the holidays, and back-to-school supplies.”

Plainville town officials, including the Town Administrator and members of the Select Board, also delivered remarks on the license renewal.

“More than a decade ago, this Commission made a wise and forward-thinking decision in awarding the Commonwealth’s first casino license to Penn National,” Plainville Town Administrator Brian Noble said. “It is hard to believe that 10 years have passed since then, and in that time, Plainridge Park Casino has proved to be a positive, responsible, and valued member of our community.”

Members of the public who made public comments included representatives from the IAM Union, the Old Colony Habitat for Humanity, and the United Regional Chamber of Commerce, among others. Representatives from these organizations spoke positively about PPC’s economic impact and community partnerships.

“Plainridge Park Casino exemplifies the role of a responsible and engaged community partner,” said Jack Lank, President of the United Regional Chamber of Commerce. “[PPC] has contributed positively to the economic and social well-being of this region, and we strongly encourage the Mass Gaming Commission to renew the license of Plainridge Park Casino.”

The next step in the license renewal process will be an adjudicatory hearing held on Wednesday, May 14, at 10:00 A.M. This hearing will serve as the Commission’s official discussion regarding PPC’s license renewal. A live stream will be available via the MGC YouTube channel.

A recording of the hearing at Plainville Town Hall can also be found on the MGC YouTube channel.

Photos of the event can be found below: