Churchill Downs Gambling Hurting, Beshear May Come To The Rescue

It is kind of hard to sell people that expanded gambling is necessary after telling people that gambling is dangerous to children. That is exactly what Governor Steve Beshear may attempt to do in the state of Kentucky.

Last summer, Beshear was busy at work trying to seize the domain names of 141 online gambling sites. He did not succeed, but he did point out during the process how much gambling could be a danger to children in the state of Kentucky.

Now, less than a week after Churchill Downs cut back its racing schedule and decreased race purses, Beshear and other lawmakers have met and discussed the possibility of expanding gambling at state racetracks.

"It seems now to be snowballing and the industry is really getting close to being in a free-fall," said Beshear, "I think it would be tragic if we don't do everything possible to prevent that." Those are interesting words for someone who just last year was battling against gambling freedom.

"...For individuals, particularly out youth, it is tantamount to a virtual home invasion," Beshear said while speaking about Internet gambling. Now, he believes that the same vice that would cause a h""home invasion", could help save the horse racing industry in Kentucky.

Lawmakers are considering whether to allow video gambling at state racetracks. The additional revenue is estimated to be in the $350 million range for the state. Opponents of the expanded gambling, however, believe that expanding gambling options at racetracks will hurt, not help the racing industry.

"This kind of mechanized gambling is not only predatory in terms of taking money from people who can't really afford it, but it's predatory on the horse industry," said Martin Cothran of the anti-gambling group, Say No To Casinos, "since mechanized gambling, which is more enticing and more profitable, will eventually drive out the horses."

May 16, 2009
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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