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Kentucky Politicians Meet to Discuss Expanded Race Track Gambling
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY --
A sense of urgency has caused Kentucky leaders to call emergency meeting to consider the fastest way to present legislation aimed at expanding gambling at state race tracks. Governor Steve Beshear met with state legislators to create a plan to allow slot machines and video gaming at horse tracks after Beshear declared the racing industry in crisis.
Churchill Downs, the iconic gambling operator in the state, has asked for permission to cut the number of days of live racing, citing low purses and small crowds. Churchill itself continued to show strong financial gains, as it expands into the online gambling industry so feared by the Governor, even as its live racing fades.
House Speaker Greg Stumbo has introduced a bill to bring video gambling to tracks. Stumbo says the plan would generate larger purses for races, thus drawing better horses and larger crowds. But he emphasized the need for speedy action.
"The urgency of their situation requires that we do something immediately if we're going to save our racing industry in this state," Stumbo said.
"This is one of our signature industries and we cannot afford to allow this industry to go in serious decline," Beshear said, in a basic repeat of the words he used when seeking forfeiture of 141 online casino domain names. No comment was forthcoming on how the very business Beshear sought to protect with the court action, Churchill Downs, is now increasing its Internet gambling while decreasing the live racing that provides Kentucky jobs.
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