When Presque Isle Downs & Casino opened in 2007, not everyone welcomed the new attraction with open arms. But as time went on, the casino proved to be a good neighbor and a prosperous tourist attraction.
That is, until 2023, when skill games, which are similar to slot machines, became legal and not regulated by the state’s strict casino laws. Now, they’re popping up everywhere.
“New Year’s Eve, busiest day of the year for us. I still have about 500 games that won’t get played, because that’s how far the demand has dropped off with all these other games on the market,” said Gary Hendricks, vice president and general manager of Presque Isle Downs and Casino. “And of course, they’re not paying, currently, a gaming tax. We pay a gaming tax, which is one of the highest in the country, is the highest in the country.”
