Casino Salem this week celebrated its phase-one opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the first charitable gaming facility in Salem, New Hampshire, with historical horse racing games.
Salem hosts the second casino in the Granite State to open this year just seconds from the Massachusetts state line and near the Boston suburbs, following The Nash Casino in Nashua last March, so close to the border part of its parking lot is in Massachusetts.
Casino Salem also offers a mixture of traditional table games and poker, quick service food offerings, and a full bar.
“We are thrilled to open Casino Salem and bring an exciting new amenity to this region,” Joe Faro and Sal Lupoli, developers and co-owners of Casino Salem, said in a statement. “This initial phase will stimulate our local economy, create new jobs, and increase tourism immediately, setting the foundation to create lasting benefits for the community for decades.”
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by Faro and Lupoli; Cordish Gaming Group President Rob Norton; Casino Salem Executive Vice President Jeff Favre; Salem Town Manager Joe Devine; Southern New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cindi Woodbury; The Mall at Rockingham Park General Manager Ken Brown; and Trish Earle, founder of Bridging the Horizon, one of Casino Salem’s new non-profit partners benefiting from gaming contributions.
Actor Steve Schirripa, Bobby Baccalieri of The Sopranos, placed the official first bet on Salem’s inaugural historical horse racing machines.
“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,” Favre said. “The Mall at Rockingham Park, along with Tuscan Village, already draw visitors from throughout New England, and the addition of Casino Salem will add another dynamic attraction.”
Casino Salem is at The Mall at Rockingham Park, adjacent to the Tuscan Village. The project is at the former site of a Lord & Taylor department store that has been mostly vacant since the end of 2020.
“Bridging the Horizon is so grateful and thankful that Casino Salem is giving us the opportunity to partner with them to continue our mission providing a world class activity center for people with all abilities,” Earle said.
“We welcome Casino Salem to our community,” Devine said. “This project represents a significant investment in the future of Salem and the greater Southern New Hampshire region. It will bring jobs, spur economic growth, support local charities, and help further establish Salem as a premier destination for entertainment, dining, and innovation. We appreciate the commitment of Joe Faro, Sal Lupoli, and The Cordish Companies to making this transformative project a reality and look forward to seeing its positive impact unfold.”
