Judge says Magna Entertainment can reject gambling rights agreement with De Francis

By Randall Chase, AP
Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Judge rejects bid for Laurel gaming rights

WILMINGTON, Del. — A Delaware bankruptcy judge has rejected a bid by the former owners of Laurel Park to secure exclusive non-racing gambling rights at the Maryland track.

The judge on Tuesday said Magna Entertainment Corp. could reject a 2002 agreement that created a limited liability company and gave Joseph De Francis and other former owners of the Laurel Park and Pimlico tracks so-called alternative gaming rights.

Magna argued the rights don’t exist because it does not have a slots license and they are not among the Laurel Park and Pimlico assets being auctioned later this month.

Attorneys for the former owners argued that they had a vested property right in the form of an easement that would have prevented buyers of the tracks from operating slot machines.

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