Kentucky is facing a large budget deficit as well as a public pension debt, but its leaders do not plan to turn to casino gambling. That was the word from several Kentucky lawmakers this week.
Earlier this summer, proponents of casino gambling got their hopes up, because the state’s bastion of gambling, Churchill Downs, began to lobby for a gambling machine parlor. Casino advocates believes the racetrack’s quest might open the door for other gaming operations.
That does not appear to be the case. It still is uncertain whether visitors to the Kentucky Derby will find historical horse racing machines in the Churchill Downs complex in the future. Whatever the case, the most vocal Kentucky politicians are shutting down any talk of full land-based casinos.
Tim Moore Dismisses Casino Gambling
State Rep. Tim Moore (R), said he does not see gambling legislation “going anywhere”. Moore dismissed the buzz among some gaming advocates to turn to casino gambling. Those proponents said recenty that most of Kentucky’s neighbors have legal gambling, so residents are gambling in out-of-state casinos — and losing a lot of money there.
For instance, Jack Casino Cincinnati (pictured) sits across the Ohio River from Kentucky. Prospective gamblers living in northeastern Kentucky have easy access to Jack Casino (formerly known as Horseshoe Cincinnati). Louisville is less than a 2-hour drive to Cincinnati, while the state capital of Frankfurt is a similar distance. Gambling is easy access to most Kentuckians, as recent stories about Kentuckians in Jack Casino attest.
Rep. Tim Moore dismisses that kind of talk. Instead, the veteran lawmaker from Elizabethtown said, “I haven’t heard anything that rises to the level of a buzz, just a little noise at this point that hasn’t risen in volume.”
“There are always going to be a few that thinks casinos are the right policy for Kentucky, whether we need this money for pensions or the budget. The reason for justifying it shifts, but the desire to have it never goes away.”
Ray Jones: Only “Very Limited and Controlled Circumstances”
Senate Minority Leader Ray Jones (D) echoes Rep. Moore’s sentiments. Senator Jones denied he had even heard of such a discussion. He said, “I haven’t heard any discussion of that issue and no one has talked to me about it.”
“I’ve always opposed gambling, for personal reasons. For me to support any kind of expanded gaming, it would have to be very, very limited and controlled circumstances. I’ve not seen any type of proposal that I could support.”
Fantasy Football Law Voted Down
Rep. Dan Bentley (R) pointed out that even fantasy football could not get traction in Kentucky. Referring to a losing vote on fantasy sports legislation earlier in 2017, Bentley said, “I haven’t heard the word ‘gambling‘ spoken of since we voted down the Fantasy Football. I’m sure that I’m not privy to everything, because there are cliques and all, but I haven’t heard anything.”
In the Kentucky House of Representatives, the fantasy football bill passed by a slim 37-36 margin. In the Kentucky Senate, the bill needed a 40% vote to trigger a full vote on the Senate floor. The fantasy sports bill did not receive the minimum required votes to force a floor vote.
As a general rule in American politics, if a state is hostile to the idea of legalizing fantasy sports, it is going to be hostile to casino gambling. Many proponents of daily fantasy sports point out their hobby is a game of skill, which is an important distinction in the legal world. Most casino games are games of chance, which are considered of a lower order in most US states.
Churchill Downs Gambling Machines?
Kentucky is, of course, a bastion of horse racing. Many see an anti-casino stance as a way to protect Churchill Downs and the Kentucky horse racing culture. Any gambling outside of a racetrack might harm horse betting.
Earlier this year, though, there was talk of placing 650 historical horse race gambling machines at Churchill Downs. Some believed that gaming machine bill might signal wider support for expanded gambling in the state. That does not appear to be the case.
Historical Horse Racing Machines
Whatever the case, the historical horse racing machines signaled a change in tactics for Churchill Downs. Historically, it has called for a full casino, instead of the equivalent of a slots parlor. Despite the historical support for the venerable racetrack, legislators have denied its owners the right to build a casino. The hostility to such gaming runs deep.
The Daily Racing Form noted earlier this summer that America’s most famous racetrack wants to build a 85,000-square foot parlor on its Lousiville grounds. Churchill Downs plans to spend between $50 million and $60 million on a facility to be located next to its training facilities.
