Track adding slot machines

Monday, Jan. 14, 2002 | 9:49 a.m.

NITRO, W.Va. -- Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center is building a 57,000-square-foot addition that could contain up to 600 new slot machines.

The West Virginia Lottery Commission must approve increasing the number of machines at the track, which now has about 1,000.

"We're looking to attract more people from out of state," spokesman Daniel Adkins said.

Initial estimates for the expansion project predicted it would cost up to $12 million. Tri-State officials declined to give an updated cost.

Antigambling activist Mike Queen said expanding the race track may have a positive impact on the area economy, but gambling is addictive and destructive. He cited a study by West Virginia Problems Gamblers that showed 80 percent of people that call the group's help line are addicted to slot machines at tracks or video poker machines.

And building trade union groups have picketed the construction site. The Affiliated Construction Trades Foundation has run ads in Charleston newspapers complaining that the track's owners promised jobs and "We're not working."

Tri-State hired St. Albans-based Orders Construction.

"It's good that local people are working there, but our position is that it was committed to members of the building trades union. They haven't lived up to their direct commitment," said Steve White, director of the trades foundation.