Kentucky governor pushing slots bill by winter

On Wednesday, one day after Ohio voters passed Issue 3 that allows casinos in four cities, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear issued a statement that stated "Clearly, the time to act on expanded gaming (in Kentucky) is now." In releasing the statement, Beshear said he hopes to have a bill approving video lottery terminals in the state by winter.

 

"Ohio citizens are going to reap the benefits of thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue. Ohio's decision reinforces the urgency to pass the video lottery terminal bill I proposed earlier this year."

 

Senate president David Williams has been a staunch opponent of expanding gaming at the state's racetracks, and on Wednesday he was quoted as saying that earlier projections of slots revenue would now be reduced because of the new Ohio casinos. "We're just not very well situated...to be in competition with other states," Williams was quoted in the Lexington Herald Leader.

 

Williams added that any chance for expanded gaming would have to come from a referendum from the state's voters, and he called for Beshear to call for legislation that would put the issue on the ballot.