Home

House Speaker Greg Stumbo has officially commenced efforts to expand gambling in Kentucky with slot machines by filing his anticipated bill this week.  The bill, meant to bring slot machines to state racetracks, will be voted on in the house with legislators reconvene in February.

Last year, Governor Steve Beshear – made notorious for his attempt to seize the domain name of 141 online casinos – attempted to pass a similar gambling expansion bill.  The Beshear bill was subjected to weeks and weeks of hearing before it was eventually approved in committee.  The bill unfortunately met its end without ever coming to a vote in the full house.

Stumbo intends to bring slot machines to the state as soon as possible, which means his bill must be out of committee within a few weeks after House lawmakers reconvene for the short session which begins on February 3.

In an effort to avoid any legal challenge by opponents of slot machines in the state, Stumbo has pledged that his bill will not advanced to a full House vote unless he receives no less than 60 votes in support of the bill.  There are several opponents that say any changes to state gambling laws needs a supermajority and a constitutional amendment.

In today’s horse racing industry, slot machines have become a very important tool.  Slot machine revenues are now necessary to sweeten purses as well as support the thoroughbred industry.  Without slot machines, it is likely that the horse racing tradition in the United States would have died away long ago.

Casino News