SALEM — Rockingham Park President Edward Callahan told selectmen Monday night he believes the Granite State can open a casino before Massachusetts — if the legislature moves quickly. Timing would be of the essence, so Callahan said he would consider opening a temporary facility while a permanent one was built. He told Selectmen he would have no problem with putting any plans on a non-binding referendum.

“The citizens in town reflected support in '94 and again in '03,” Callahan said.

In 1994 the possibility of adding slot machines at the track received majority support in a local non-binding referendum. Another non-binding referendum in 2003 garnered 75 percent in favor.

Millennium Gaming has an option to buy Rockingham Park if the legislature allows expanded gambling and has proposed building a $450 million casino there.

“We feel the window is beginning to close,” Callahan said.

Expanded gambling faces an uphill battle in the New Hampshire House, which has never approved any proposal for casinos or video slot machines.

In March 2012, the House defeated a proposal that would have allowed video slot machines and table games in four casinos. Casino licenses would have cost $50 million for each of the two large casinos and $20 million for each of the two smaller ones.

Last year the New Hampshire Troopers Association and New Hampshire Police Association came out in support of House bill 593.

Jeff Stiegler, now immediate past president of the NHPA, said at the time the “impact of having casino gambling in our neighboring states, especially Massachusetts and Maine, played a big part in reaching this decision.”

He referred to reports that “if New Hampshire doesn't act, Massachusetts casinos will siphon off $100 million per biennium in rooms and meals tax revenues and lottery sales that New Hampshire currently receives, not to mention the new money that would be lost.”

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is currently considering approving three casinos.

Callahan said he would keep selectmen updated and speak with neighboring communities if the time comes for a project to move forward at Rockingham Park.

“The more prepared we all are, the more quickly we'll be able to move and the more successful we're likely to be,” Callahan said.

Callahan said other development will have to be considered if an expanded gambling bill doesn't pass.

“If you can't get legislation to go along with this, there will be development of other types at Rockingham,” he said.

Jhanson@newstote.com