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Mass. gaming panel considers race track change

BOSTON (AP) - Members of the state gambling commission say they are leaning toward allowing Penn National Gaming to assume an application for a slots parlor at the Plainridge harness race track, but are holding off on a final decision.

Penn National announced Tuesday that it had secured an option to purchase the track from a company that had previously been disqualified by the commission.

Penn National officials told the commission Wednesday it will honor a host community agreement with the town of Plainville and is hoping to go forward with a Tuesday referendum.

Commission chairman Stephen Crosby said the panel needed to consider technical questions raised by the transaction and set another meeting for Friday.

Three other companies are vying for the sole slots parlor license allowed under the state's gambling law.