Salem, New Hampshire, welcomes the grand opening of Casino Salem, a new entertainment and charitable gaming facility, slated to transform the city’s local economy. The venue will hold its official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 9, marking the start of its phased opening.

Casino Salem opens its doors: a new entertainment hub for the region:

The first phase of the casino features a variety of Historical Horse Racing (HHR) machines, slot-like games designed to offer a thrilling gambling experience. Alongside these innovative games, traditional table games, including poker, will be available for guests. A quick-service food area and a full-service bar are also part of this initial phase.

As reported by The Eagle Tribune, Co-owners Joe Faro and Sal Lupoli expressed their excitement in a joint statement: “We are thrilled to open Casino Salem and bring a new amenity to Salem. With this initial phase, we are able to drive economic stimulus to our local economy, create new jobs, and increase tourism immediately, setting the foundation to create lasting benefits for the community for decades.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, set to begin at 1 p.m., will feature actor Steve Schirripa, known for his role in The Sopranos, who will place the first bets on the Historical Horse Racing machines. The event will also include a variety of community leaders, town officials, and select members of the public.

Casino Salem’s development is being carried out in stages, with future expansions planned to further enhance the facility. Jeff Favre, the executive vice president of the casino, explained, “By opening the casino in phases, we can expedite the addition of charitable gaming to the entertainment and tourism assets that Salem has to offer in addition to generating contributions to organizations in need.”

A long-term investment in Salem’s future:

The casino is set to be a long-term economic driver for the area, with projections showing more than $121 million generated for charitable organizations over the first decade of operation. The developers aim to create a destination that will be central to regional tourism and provide ongoing benefits to the community.

Strategically located at The Mall of Rockingham Park, next to Tuscan Village, the casino will breathe new life into a previously vacant space that housed Lord & Taylor until 2020. Developers are hopeful that the casino will become a regional destination, revitalizing the area while boosting local tourism and generating much-needed revenue.

Once all phases are completed, the casino will feature an impressive array of amenities. It will house approximately 900 Historical Horse Racing machines and 40 gaming tables, including poker. In addition to the gaming options, visitors will be able to enjoy several top-tier food and beverage outlets, a signature center bar, a sports lounge, golf simulators, and event spaces for private gatherings.

The casino’s developers are also eyeing further expansion in the future. Should the project succeed and garner the necessary approvals from both the town and the Mall’s owners, a hotel could be added to the casino’s offerings.

In a related development, Salem’s Planning Board has granted conditional approval for a $160 million Live! Casino project. Set to occupy the former Lord & Taylor site at the Mall at Rockingham Park, this casino project is a collaboration between Joe Faro and Sal Lupoli of Lupoli Companies, in partnership with the Baltimore-based Cordish Companies.