Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort: A month after delay, Mountaineer Casino gets WV tourism grant

By Staff reportsThe West Virginia Tourism Commission approved $175,000 for an advertising program for Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, one month after delaying the grant because one Tourism Commission member didn't like the casino's initial attempt.Mountaineer Casino, in Chester in the state's Northern Panhandle, will use the $175,000 in matching funds to target out-of-state visitors, according to a news release Thursday. As part of the state's Matching Advertising Partnership Program, state tourism businesses match their advertising money through partnerships with other tourism businesses and the state.The funds will be used for "a compelling visual campaign utilizing television and internet media," according to the release.Last month, Tourism Commission member Joseph Manchin IV objected to giving Mountaineer the money. He said the advertising was bland and generic and that the casino, owned by Nevada-based Eldorado Resorts Inc., seemed to be "in a holding pattern or worse."Net revenue for the resort was down 9.2 percent from the third quarter last year, according to company financial statements."I would like to send a very clear message to Eldorado that this is not free money," Manchin, the son of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, said at the time.The commission, in a rare move, postponed awarding the grant to Mountaineer at last month's meeting. Three other casinos -- Mardi Gras in Nitro, Hollywood in Charles Town and Wheeling Island -- got the maximum $175,000 grant at that meeting, as did Snowshoe Mountain Resort.