Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has confirmed plans to invest up to $200 million to significantly expand its Casino Salem charitable gaming facility in New Hampshire.
The company currently operates the 19,000 sq. ft casino within The Mall at Rockingham Park, which is being redeveloped and will be renamed Rockingham Grand Casino.
The enlarged venue will occupy 160,000 sq. ft over three floors and will feature 825 historical racing machines, 32 table games, 12 electronic table game seats and a 900-seat live entertainment venue.
Casino Salem was developed as a joint venture between The Cordish Companies and local developers Joe Faro and Sal Lupoli, with CDI acquiring a majority 90 per cent stake in the casino last August.
“We are proud to officially begin our development of Rockingham Grand Casino in partnership with Joe Faro and Sal Lupoli,” said CDI chief executive Bill Carstanjen. “We look forward to contributing to New Hampshire’s charitable organizations while bringing outstanding entertainment experiences to our guests across the greater Boston region.”
Rockingham Grand Casino will remain a key tenant of The Mall at Rockingham Park, which is the largest shopping mall in New Hampshire, and plans to officially open its doors in mid-2027 with an expected capital investment of between $180 million to $200 million.
“We are excited to take the next step alongside our valued partners at Churchill Downs as we begin our journey to bring Rockingham Grand Casino to life,” said Faro and Lupoli in a joint statement. “We remain fully committed to strengthening our local economy through the creation of vibrant consumer destinations.”
CDI received approval from the Salem Planning Board for its development plan in December.
Shares in Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ:CHDN) gained 2.46 per cent to close at $108.08 per share in New York Wednesday.