Forest Heights will host representatives from Penn National Gaming Inc., owner of Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, to present their vision for adding a slots casino to the raceway.

The town is inviting residents and community stakeholders of Forest Heights and Oxon Hill to attend the briefing at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Forest Heights municipal building, at 5508 Arapahoe Drive.

Penn National has supported expanding slots casinos to Prince George’s County, after a 2008 statewide referendum authorized slots in five locations throughout the state.

Legislation currently awaiting a vote in the Maryland Senate calls for the county’s sixth location for casino games to be at Rosecroft Raceway, about 3 miles from Forest Heights.

“We’re going to be impacted by whatever is going on. Even though it’s statewide vote, we’re going to have more impact on our community,” said Forest Heights Mayor Jacqueline Goodall. “People who live in our community have questions. Who better to get answers from than from the horse’s mouth?”

Penn National spokeswoman Karen Bailey will share the company’s vision for bringing casino gaming to Rosecroft. Topics discussed in her presentation will include responsible gaming, business opportunities, local jobs and community involvement.

“I am really not saying that I’m for the casinos, but I’m not saying that I’m against them either,” said Goodall. “I am for our community and whatever is best for our community.”

Calls to Penn National were not returned Wednesday.

djgross@gazette.net