Churchill Downs To Close Salem Casino for $200M Renovation

Churchill Downs Inc. has announced it will close Casino Salem at the Mall at Rockingham Park in Salem, New Hampshire, on March 9 to begin renovations and a rebranding. The property is set to be transformed into the Rockingham Grand Casino, with an opening targeted for mid-July next year.

According to a New Hampshire Union Leader report, the casino will close at 1 a.m. on March 9. 

A Churchill Downs representative said that the decision to close the casino to accommodate the renovation and expansion work was not made without careful thought. Allowing the casino to operate during construction would substantially delay the overall construction timeline.

According to the New Hampshire Union Leader, although Churchill Downs announced its casino expansion plans last month, it did not state that Casino Salem would need to close to support the $180 million to $200 million project.

Churchill Downs plans to keep some of its employees and hire new employees well before Rockingham Grand opens next year.

“We are excited about opening the new Rockingham Grand Casino next year, which will be a significantly larger venue with more amenities, and ultimately more employment opportunities than the current Casino Salem,” Churchill Downs officials wrote in a statement.

As with other gaming venues in New Hampshire, a portion of the casino's proceeds will go to charity. In addition to Casino Salem, Churchill Downs operates the Chasers Poker Room in Salem.