Officials at Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming Center hope to have blackjack, roulette, craps and other specialized table games up and running Oct. 9.

Owners of the track near Nitro plan charity gaming events Oct. 6-7 to test the new gaming systems and dealers, said Tri-State spokeswoman Kim Lawrence. Officials for the state Lottery Commission must approve the gaming operations before Tri-State can offer the games full-time to the public.

Tri-State opened its first poker tables to the public last month. Kanawha County voters approved the expansion of table gaming at the racetrack in August 2007.

Dealers will be play-testing roulette, blackjack, craps, three-card poker, four-card poker and Let It Ride from 4 to 10 p.m. Oct. 6-7. Tri-State will make a $5,000 donation to each of four local charities during the test runs.

Track officials will raise money for the Kanawha Charleston Humane Association and city of Nitro Children's Handicapped Park on Oct. 6 and the Highland Hospital Indigent Fund and Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home on Oct. 7.

Members of the public are invited to sit in on the charity games.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com

or 348-1215.

Officials at Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming Center hope to have blackjack, roulette, craps and other specialized table games up and running Oct. 9.

Owners of the track near Nitro plan charity gaming events Oct. 6-7 to test the new gaming systems and dealers, said Tri-State spokeswoman Kim Lawrence. Officials for the state Lottery Commission must approve the gaming operations before Tri-State can offer the games full-time to the public.

Tri-State opened its first poker tables to the public last month. Kanawha County voters approved the expansion of table gaming at the racetrack in August 2007.

Dealers will be play-testing roulette, blackjack, craps, three-card poker, four-card poker and Let It Ride from 4 to 10 p.m. Oct. 6-7. Tri-State will make a $5,000 donation to each of four local charities during the test runs.

Track officials will raise money for the Kanawha Charleston Humane Association and city of Nitro Children's Handicapped Park on Oct. 6 and the Highland Hospital Indigent Fund and Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home on Oct. 7.

Members of the public are invited to sit in on the charity games.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com

or 348-1215.