Business

Slot Machines At Proposed St. Thomas Racetrack Would Cost VI Nearly 700 Jobs, Millions In Revenue, Southland Gaming Says

ST. THOMAS -- The proposed revamping of the territory's horse racing facilities to the tune of $27 million by  VIGL Operations LLC -- a Virgin Islands firm and operator of the Caravelle Hotel and Casino in Christiansted -- was heralded by Governor Kenneth Mapp during an October 27 press conference here as a deal that would not only revive the ailing industry, but also welcome new job opportunities, as well as world-class structures in both St. Thomas and St. Croix. The deal comes laced with new benefits for the government (see details here) and has generally been viewed as a positive by residents and lawmakers, including Senate President Neville James. “As a lifelong horse racing fan, it was a pleasure to hear Governor Mapp cover all of the aspects of the industry when making details of the agreement available for public consideration. People tend to focus on the dollars associated with horse racing, but the governor’s desire to implement anti-doping mandates is what makes this in...