Senate Committee Approves Expanded Gambling In Kentucky

Kentucky lawmakers have been discussing the possibility of expanded gambling at state racetracks for the better part of the past year. For the first time, however, a Bill has advanced out of a Senate Committee on Thursday.

Senator Damon Thayer has proposed the legislation that would allow for Instant Racing at the eight racetracks in Kentucky. The betting would call for the tracks to pool bets on races that have been run previously. The legislation would help the ailing racing industry in the state.

The horse racing industry on a whole has been devastated in the US by the economic recession. Purses have been dropping at tracks all across the country, and lawmakers in states where racing is prevalent have been searching for ways to help keep the tracks financially stable.

Even with the Senate committee approval and a likely full Senate vote going in favor of this new bill, passage in the House is unlikely. More expansion will be needed to create the amount of revenue that is necessary for other legislators to approve expanded gambling.

Governor Steve Beshear did compliment the efforts of the Senate committee, and claims that this is a small step towards the expansion he is looking for. Beshear would like to see slot machines at state racetracks.

Several previous attempts to pass slot machine gambling at the racetracks have stalled in the legislature. The tax structure for the Bill proposed by Thayer has also come into question while debating the legislation.

March 12, 2010
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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