He is also hoping that the slot machines will attract the younger crowd that has left to go to the casinos.

"If we attract some young people to come in for the slots, then maybe they will become interested in greyhound racing," Trieger says.

Although they mourn the loss their parks will experience, the track officials acknowledge that allowing a casino in Massachusetts is a smart move for the state.

"All things equal, we would rather not have casinos in New England at all, but it makes sense for some form of casino gambling, because all of the money is now leaving the state," Ramsey says.

Hartmann says that because of the casinos, Foxboro Park will have to adjust its advertising strategy.

"It will not be a benefit to us, but it is something not only do we have to live with, but [it will force us] to refocus our marketing to be competitive with the casino," Hartmann says.

New advertising will promote the slot machines, and emphasize the family-oriented aspects of good old-fashioned horse racing, Hartmann says.

For the immensely popular and financially rewarding Massachusetts State Lottery, officials say they are in an "assessment stage" over a change in strategy if the New Bedford casino becomes a reality.

"We're still discussing it," says lottery spokesperson Deirdre Clark. "It will have some type of effect, we just do not know what type of effect it will have."

But for Sacca and hundreds of other Wonderland employees, the new casino would bring something more tangible, something they will need come December: a job.

"It would give us a boost here," Sacca said. "It would help me. I would be working.