Despite Initial Claims, Foxboro Named Surrounding Town by Penn National

Despite uncertainly express by the selectmen at their most recent meeting, a Penn National official has denied the board’s claim that Foxboro and the other towns that border Plainville will not be named a surrounding town in the application for the state’s slot parlor license.

"As we have previously told the town of Foxborough, it has always been our intention to designate them as a surrounding community in our application,” Penn National Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Eric Schippers said in a statement to Foxborough Patch.

Schippers added that the official designation notice was sent on Oct. 2 as planned. Penn National and the town have been negotiating an agreement for the past two weeks. The designation allows Foxboro to attempt to obtain mitigation funds if Penn National is awarded the license to operate a slot parlor at Plainridge Racecourse.

The selectmen’s office confirmed today that the document designating the Foxboro as a surrounding town has been received.

At the Oct. 1 Foxboro Board of Selectmen meeting, Cutler was ordered by the selectmen to prepare a letter to petition the Mass. State Gaming Commission to be named a surrounding town.

Penn National has until Oct. 4 to submit their application for the slots license. Earlier today, the group was deemed suitable to operate a slots parlor in the state by the Mass. Gaming Commission.