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Newly elected House Speaker Greg Stumbo is pushing for slot machines
to help preserve Kentucky’s legendary place in the horse racing
industry. Under the bill he has proposed, slot machines would be
administered by the Kentucky Lottery. Stumbo also reasons that there
would be no reason for a constitutional amendment if the slot machine
are operated at racetracks as people already gamble in these venues.
Confident in his opinion, Stumbo said, “I would wager my law license
that I’m correct about this.”
“They did not intend in any way, form, or fashion, to limit or
exclude other forms or types of gambling – only state run lotteries,”
said Stumbo in regards to the intent of the original authors of the
Kentucky Constitutions.
Stumbo is convinced that slot machines operated at horse tracks is
already covered in the current language of the constitution and now
amendment will be necessary.
“To me it’s no different than if the lottery chooses to put a new
game out and they’re selling lottery tickets at the SuperAmerica or
wherever they’re selling them. It’s not really an expansion of gaming.
It’s simply a new form or gaming.”
However, Stumbo’s opinion on slot machines has received so
opposition. According to Martin Cothran of ‘Say No To Casinos’ the
intent of the constitutional amendment was made clear back in 1988 with
Kentucky citizens voted in favor of a state lottery.
“Voters were told in reports like the report of the Lottery
Commission, released October 31st, 1988, that lottery games included
only what are called instant and online games, designations that exclude
VLT’s,” said Cothran.
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