Kentucky lawmakers are likely to maintain their firmly negative stance towards the legalization of Las Vegas-style casino gambling within the state’s borders, despite their struggles to close a budget gap and to solve a public pension debt issue.
Local news outlet Kentucky Today has reported that key lawmakers have denied reports that casino gambling has been brought up for discussion as the potential savior of the state’s financial difficulties. Kentucky officials have admitted that the state budget is in a desperate need of additional revenue sources, but that these sources will be sought for in fields different from gambling.
Casino gambling is illegal under Kentucky laws and there are no full-fledged casino venues anywhere in the state. There are several gambling properties, including racetracks, offering slot machines, but those feature no table games at all.
Reports have recently surfaced that the current legal status quo may change in future and at a time when the state needs revenue to boost its thinning budget. However, some of the legislators reached by local media have denied the reports. Others said that there might have been internal discussions among one clique within the state Legislature or another, but it all shows that official talks have not been held and are not likely to be held anytime soon.
Any form of gambling expansion has historically been voted down by Kentucky lawmakers. The most recent manifestation of their continued negative disposal towards gambling was the rejection of a fantasy football bill that was introduced earlier this year.
The bill appeared suddenly and almost unexpectedly and the effort was put out just as quickly. The piece of legislation was passed by two committees only to be killed before overcoming its third legislative hurdle.
Churchill Downs’ Planned Expansion
Kentucky will see a form of gambling expansion, although not the form of expansion casino proponents would have been happier about. The historical Churchill Downs Racetrack announced earlier this year that it would spend around $60 million on the construction of a separate gaming machine parlor. The facility will occupy an 85,000-square-foot site and will feature 650 gaming devices.
Churchill Downs owners have been reported to have received a preliminary green light from the state Horse Racing Commission. Yet, it is yet to be granted additional permissions to proceed with construction work and the future operation of the newly-built facility.
The popular racetrack has long been calling to be allowed to add full-scale casino options, including table games, but lawmakers’ continued refusal to discuss the matter has prevented it from going any further with that plan.
Churchill Downs’ history of being home to horse races spans back to the 1870s. The Louisville, Kentucky-based venue is best known for housing the legendary Kentucky Derby since the latter was inaugurated in 1875.
