Kentucky Follows Massachusetts in Rejecting Casinos

Both governors were handily elected running with the creation of casinos as a major campaign platform.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has admitted his casino initiative for the state is dead, at least for the time being. This is the second major defeat for a U.S. governor on casino licensing, following Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's loss in his state legislature.

Anti-gambling forces are rejoicing, seeing this as an end to the proliferation of casinos and slot parlors across the country. However, these parties have no answer as to how to replace the revenues so desperately needed by these states that casinos would have provided.

Furthermore, both governors were handily elected running with the creation of casinos as a major campaign platform. If defeating the will of the people, as expressed by electing officials who represent popular goals, is a cause for celebration, then those who oppose gambling should throw a party.

Debate was rigorous and contentious in both states, taking place over the winter and into spring. Yet, aftet all the public outcry, which certainly indicated large numbers of supporters, the Kentucky legislature did not even bring the bill, which could have licensed up to 12 casinos, to a vote.

In Massachusetts, the battle became a power struggle between the governor and state House Speaker Sal DiMasi. Many lawmakers who had voiced opinions leaning towrd supporting Patrick's bill creating three casinos were persuaded by DiMasi to change their minds. Political quid pro quo seems to have been the order of the day, without concern for the wishes of the voters.

Tom Gray, a Methodist minister who heads the National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion, said,"People are saying 'No more. Enough is enough." Yet, in neither state was it demonstrated that the voters disapproved of casinos.

The American Gaming Association reported that casinos in the U.S. paid more than $5 billion in taxes last year. Beshear estimates his casino plan would have brought $600 million anually to Kentucky's treasury. And Patrick's state budget was based entirely on revenue from casino taxes, revenue which now does not exist.

Let those politicians and demagogues who connived to defeat casino measures stand up now, so that the public remembers them when their states can't pay for basic services, or their property taxes go even higher.