According to a study by the Innovation Group, the proposed Valley View Downs racino in western Pennsylvania will be impacted heavily if a racino is also erected in
Youngstown, Ohio.
An article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has cited the study as finding that Valley View Downs would generate $123 million for the state annually if there is not a competing racino built in Youngstown, Ohio.
If there is such a racino built, the report estimates that Pennsylvania would reap $83 million from the Valley View track.
The article also states that there is some worry that the geographical area could become saturated with slot machine gaming.
David LaTorre, spokesman for American Harness Tracks, which is pursuing the Valley View venture, has gone on the record as disagreeing with aspects of the study's assessment.
"We believe the western part of the state still has remarkable potential [for more gambling]," LaTorre was quoted as saying. "We've monitored the growth [of casinos] and feel very comfortable that this will be a tremendously successful gaming project."
(With files from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)