Racetracks not guaranteed in new Kentucky casino bill
February 27, 2008
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A Kentucky House Committee on Wednesday afternoon passed by a vote of 7-2 a bill that will allow casinos at nine locations in the state--but does not guarantee that any racetrack will get one of the available licenses.
Although the racetracks are not guaranteed to get a license, they may still get up to five of the nine licenses that will be available. An earlier version of the bill that guaranteed the tracks licenses did not pass the House Committee.
Seven Democrats on the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee voted in favor of the bill while the two Republicans on the Committee voted against. Three Democrats who favored the earlier version of the bill and were reportedly against the newer bill were not at the meeting.
The bill will now go before the full 100-member House for a vote, as early as Friday but more likely early next week.
The Kentucky horse racing industry earlier expressed opposition to the new bill as they could possibly be shut out of getting any of the nine licenses.