Take a sneak peek at Massachusetts' first casino

PLAINVILLE, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- In less than a week, the first slots parlor in Massachusetts opens its doors, marketing itself the only gaming casino in the state at the moment.

It marks the beginning of the casino rollout, after Beacon Hill passed a statewide casino law that was also publicly approved, through a referendum.
   
So will it be a success, how will it impact the community, and how does it differ from other New England casinos? FOX25's Heather Hegedus got a sneak peek inside.

Casino developer Penn National Gaming, the town of Plainville, and the state are hoping luck is on their side. The Plainridge Park Casino is a $250 million gamble: A slots parlor built alongside the last operating horse track in Massachusetts.

"You're going to be immediately hit with games as soon as you walk into the facility," said Lance George, the vice president and general manager at Plainridge.

They're not licensed for table games, so Plainridge has electronic table games, including video poker and video blackjack

Some are manned by computerized dealers.

"So if you require or request an additional hit card, she will respond to that and issue another card," George said, adding that the dealers also make witty comments.

In all, there are more than 1,000 games, and a handful of sit down and fast food restaurants, all in this one room.

It's no question Plainridge is a smaller casino that what you're probably used to. The casino floor is 44,000 square feet. That's about the size of a football field goal line to goal line.

It's about an eighth of the size of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods in Connecticut. So the question is, how will Plainridge compete?

George says first and foremost, it's location location location.

It's directly off I-495 and Route 1, close to both Boston and Rhode Island, which has a few casinos of its own.

But George also says another advantage is Plainridge is getting a head start on Massachusetts' full service casinos that are still a few years out.

"No doubt about it, we'll be able to build up a bit of loyalty before the other folks come online," George said.

But another question remaining is the community impact, and locals have mixed opinions.

"I'm definitely nervous about the traffic," said Talley Clyde of North Attleboro.

"You gotta worry about the social aspects of gambling and that sort of thing, and the flow of alcohol," said Brian Kelley, another North Attleboro resident. "But at the same time, I think it will help a lot with the economics of the town."

Patrick kinney/plainville 12:37 "You just kinda hope that the good is going to outweigh the bad," said Plainville resident Patrick Kinney.

And that's a gamble Plainridge is about to take.

Cox Media Group