Ohio's Final Racino Opens Outside Of Youngstown

The opening of Ohio's seventh licensed racino drew big crowds outside of Youngstown. Nearly every one of the 850 slot machine-like lottery terminals had players hoping for jackpots within minutes of the opening of Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course's last Wednesday. The $250 million project by Penn National Gaming includes the racino, a thoroughbred race track, sports bar and food court. Penn National holds a state-issued thoroughbred racing license that allowed it to operate Beulah Park in Grove City. But the company shut down Beulah Park and moved its horseracing operation to the Youngstown area. Penn National also operates the Hollywood casinos in Columbus and Toledo and a racino in Dayton. This newest racino is seen as a possible boost to a region troubled by unemployment and a staggering economy. The racino employs 400 people with 90 percent from northeast Ohio. Horse racing starts at the facility on Nov. 24.