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It seems that a part of the Kentucky culture is the mindset that if what you want is not given to you, you take it.  Racetracks in Kentucky, like racing industries all across the globe, are in financial trouble and slot machines are their chosen remedy.  But, much like Governor Steve Beshear’s attempt to seize the domain name of 141 online casinos, the tracks are not sitting around and waiting for their wish to be granted by some fairy godmother.

Kentucky racing venues have organized a very serious campaign to get slot machines operating at state tracks.  It is not exactly clear if this push will undermine Kentucky’s case against online casinos, but it seems track operators could care less.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.  The tracks have invested quite a bit in this campaign that so far includes radio spots as well as the distribution of 250,000 brochures supporting slot machines at state racetracks.

The slot machines issue is hardly one side and has the state torn almost directly in half.  As usual there is one side firmly against casino gambling in the state, however the other side believes that if casino gambling, via slot machines, does not get started soon their will not be horse racing industry to speak of in a few years.

“This is a tough one for the people of Kentucky,” said observer Jamie Gresker.

“They cannot afford to risk their racetracks closing down, but they are strongly opposed to any type of casino gambling.”

 

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