NH town votes in favor of a casino

SALEM, N.H. (AP) -- Voters in the town of Salem have voted overwhelmingly in favor of allowing a casino at Rockingham Park.

More than 80 percent of those voting, or 4,598, voted in favor of the plan in a non-binding referendum Tuesday night. Voting against it were 1,074.

Voters were asked if they favor video lottery machines and table games to be operated in a commercial casino at the race track, where charitable bingo is held but live horse racing ended in 2010.

A bill legalizing a casino is up for a vote in the state Senate on Thursday. It's expected to pass easily. It faces a harder time in the House, which has rejected many similar bills over the years. Legalized gambling in New Hampshire is limited to the lottery and charitable games. Simulcast races at Rockingham also are allowed.