Penn National Gaming’s $250m Plainridge Park Casino, Massachusetts’ first gambling venue, officially opens on Wednesday, June 24.

The venue opened doors for several thousand people, who were invited by the casino operator for the last equipment tests, two days before the official opening ceremony. Invited to the facility to experience gaming for the first time were regular gamblers of nearby Connecticut casinos, construction contractors who worked on the facility and officials of the state.

During the soft launch, only minor issues were found such as seating people in the dining areas or preparing food in time for the number of guests on-site.

Former Boston Red Sox outfielder Fred Lynn and Boston Bruins national anthem singer Rene Rancourt joined the state gaming officials and Penn National Gaming executives for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.