Casino Gambling at Kentucky Race Tracks Unlikely to Pass
Despite pleas of desperation from Governor Steve Beshear and the state's horse industry, the Kentucky legislature seems unlikely to legalize gambling on slots at race tracks. State House Speaker Greg Stumbo,a gambling proponent, said he doesn't foresee lawmakers approving casino gambling any time soon.While the House may be willing to consider using slots to subsidize the racing industry and to raise state revenues, Senate leaders are dead set against gambling as a source of new income. Senate President David Williams says gambling would only lead to the state preying on poor and economically disadvantaged residents.
Stumbo told a press conference that Kentucky residents already gamble, they just do it at neighboring states that allow slots gaming. He wants to keep that revenue at home, and says as much as $300 million for Kentucky is at stake.
House members want gambling revenue to back a $1 billion bond issue that would fund school construction, creating jobs as well as improving education. But Williams remains adamant that gaming is not an alternative he's willing to consider, causing Stumbo to admit pursuing the idea in his chamber is useless.
"Do we want to deal with something that we know is not going to get a full and fair hearing on the Senate floor?" Stumbo asked rhetorically. "My guess is probably not."
