Kentucky Legislators Make Case For In-State Gambling

Kentucky is taking steps to encourage building brick-and-mortar casinos on home soil as a way to keep local gamblers entertained within the boundaries of the state – all for a higher cause that is collecting funds for paying state pensions, among other things. In that regard, Kentucky’s official lawmakers are prepping up a rally to garner for a casino referendum that would take place in November this year.

The referendum and the subsequent solution of building casinos in the state, should it , is mostly the question of keeping the money within the state – as gamblers are spending their dollar bills in neighboring states, Kentucky’s officials see this as a problem that could be remedied in a simple and elegant manner – by allowing casino operators to conduct their business in state. Interestingly, Kentucky is one of 11 US states that has neither tribal nor commercial casinos.

The House Bill 220 will be asking the residents of the state if they’d like to see Kentucky’s Constitution amended so that it permits commercial gambling. State Rep., Jerry Miller, introduced this legislation last week and added: “Last July, I took a little road trip. I visited three casinos in Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. I counted cars. Forty-two percent were from Kentucky.”

Morgan McGarvey, State Senator, also s this measure and says: “We’re not asking people whether they want casinos. We’re asking people if they want to turn around the carloads of cash that are leaving our state on a daily basis.”

Historically, voters in this state were not in favor of similar proceedings. This is the reason why some analysts predict this act to fail before it even begins. Kentucky’s ultra-conservative General Assembly is doing their part in keeping the gambling off its doorsteps and most voters seem to go along with it. After all, it is one of the most religious states in the US and it’s no wonder why gambling is still widely regarded as a “sin industry.” Therefore, it is quite unlikely that a population where three out of four people claim they believe in God will vote in favor of casinos.

However, Rep. Adam Koenig, a cosponsor of this bill, remains optimistic: “Given our state’s budgetary difficulties and the Republican party’s belief in freedom and personal responsibility, I believe it is past time that we gave the citizens of Kentucky the chance to vote on this,” also noting that “tax revenue generated from potential casinos would be fully earmarked to the state’s pension fund. Kentucky’s Retirement System is way too underfunded – more than $10,000 per Kentuckian. The casino tax revenue is estimated to be more than $250 million per year which would aid the state’s faltered pension system.”

Source:

“Kentucky Lawmakers Push For Casinos, Ask Gamblers to Keep Money at Home to Pay State Pensions”, Horridge Kevin, February 3, 2018.