Whoa! Kentucky Instant Racing bill stalls

Although early indications were that a bill that would allow Instant Racing machines at Kentucky Racetracks appeared on track for approval, the measure stalled Wednesday in a state Senate Committee. Reports from Frankfort stated that Sen. Damon Thayer decided against bringing the bill to a vote in the State and Local Government Committee because of increasing opposition.

Although there are just 10 days left in the current legislative session, Thayer said he did not consider the bill dead and that he was hoping the opposition—which believes the game based on videos of previously-run races that are viewed at random is an expansion of gaming—would subside.

The bill at first placed a 1.5-percent tax on wagers made on races in Kentucky via the telephone and computer, but on Tuesday word came that a revision was being made that would also place a 1.5 percent tax on Instant Racing wagers that would go to purses and breed development funds.

Senate president David Williams, who has been vocal in the pats in his opposition to any form of expanded gaming, said afterward he could support the bill in its new version and that he expected it to pass through the committee and also the full Senate. The newer version allows Gov. Steve Beshear to sign into law as an Executive Order, or the machines could be added through the Kentucky Racing Commission. Kentucky attorney general Jack Conway gave an earlier opinion that the Instant Gaming machines could be started under existing law.

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