Meadows Racetrack & Casino transforming, adding sportsbook
Hidden from the view of patrons, major changes are taking place at several locations inside the Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Washington County, including preparations for its first sportsbook.
Vibe lounge closed several weeks ago for construction of a new sports- betting area at the facility. The food court was closed in July for the installation of a new four- restaurant concept by celebrity chef Fabio Viviani.
In addition, a complete reconfiguration of the slot machines on the gaming floor will begin next week with completion expected by November. There also are plans to close Headliners lounge in October to allow for three months of construction to add seating and make other renovations.
“Wereally just have a total transformation of the Meadows expe - rience taking place,” Meadows general manager Tony Frabbiele said of the $ 14 million in additions and renovations at the North Strabane facility. “We want the whole experience for the customers on the main gaming floor to feel like it’s a whole new
Meadows.
“By the end of 2019, this will look like a whole new casino. We’re touching just about every part of the gaming and non- gaming floor. Everything is getting some sort of refresh.”
The casino is undergoing the most dramatic changes since it opened in its current location as a permanent site in 2010 after two years in a temporary facility.
The Meadows filed for a sportsbook license with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on July 3. Currently, the plan is to keep Vibe’s U- shaped bar and install new seating, five teller cages for placing wagers and large screens for viewing betting odds and sporting events in progress.
But before it receives a license, the casino will have to make a presentation to the board on its plans. Once approved, the fee for the license is $ 10 million.
After that, the Meadows will work with gaming board staff “to make sure a myriad of items have been approved,” said PGCB spokesman Doug Harbach. “They’ll make sure that security cameras are in place, individual employees are trained and licensed, the equipment is working.”
And even when that is all in place, the sportsbook will undergo a two- to three- day test with live wagering by gamblers to identify and correct any problems.
Because of all that, it’s difficult to say when the sportsbook may open for business, but it’s possible it could be during football season, a major sports- betting driver.
Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, the Meadows’ local rival, has been operating a sportsbook in a temporary location in the casino since December 2018. A larger, permanent facility is under construction with completion targeted for next month.
Currently, there are nine other sportsbooks operating in Pennsylvania — seven at casinos and two at off- track betting locations. The Rivers and three other casinos that have retail sportsbooks also offer online sports betting. The Meadows is expected to follow suit.
Sportsbooks aren’t huge moneymakers for casinos but have ancillary benefits. Casinos opening sportsbooks have seen increased food and beverage revenues, as well as upticks in slot and table game wagering.
“This will bring energy and excitement to the property,” Mr. Frabbiele. “It also lends itself to a different customer base, a different demographic that we’re excited to introduce our product to.”
Three new restaurants in the food court, which overlooks the racetrack, will offer Italian, Asian and American fare. A fourth will feature desserts and coffee. Also being constructed in the food court is a 40- seat bar that will have 36 beers on tap.
The current satellite cashier cage near the closed food court will be removed to allow a larger entrance to the new restaurants from the gaming floor. A satellite cashier cage is being constructed at the former site of the players club, which recently was relocated.
At Headliners, renovations will be undertaken, a marquee featuring the names of weekend performers will be added and 100 new seats will be installed, bumping the capacity to 350.
As for the slot machines reconfiguration, 120 new games will be added and about 300 units will be removed to allow for more player comfort. Even with the decrease, the Meadows will continue to have the third- highest number of units in the state with about 2,600 machines.
The changes at the Meadows come at a time when gaming in the state’s 12 casinos took in record revenues of $ 3.3 billion in the 2018- 19 fiscal year which ended June 30. That record likely won’t stand as retail and online sports betting and online casino games are adopted by more casinos; truck- stop video gaming terminals are installed; and a large Philadelphia casino and new mini- casinos, including those in Beaver and Westmoreland counties, are opened, possibly in 2020.