They still have a long way to go, but at least a legislator has introduced a bill in the House to allow electronic 'games of skill' to be allowed at the state’s racetracks
.
Whether the Senate has any interest remains to be seen, but if so the House bill -- HB 601 -- would allow video poker, blackjack and similar games.
The sponsor, Democrat Harry Moberly, said he “would assume this is more acceptable to the general public” than Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear’s wish for slots at the tracks, although almost certainly it is not preferable to the state’s tracks, which reacted cautiously to the proposal.
Moberly told the Louisville Courier-Journal he had discussed his bill with the Senate minority leader, Democrat Ed Worley, “who expressed interest in it” and Worley said he hoped the Senate might consider the idea. How the House will
receive it also remains to be seen.
The bill calls for 13.5% of proceeds from the machines to go to the track for purses, another 1.5% to purse supplements, breeders and owners awards, and the remaining 85% to the state for a jobs program.
Moberly estimated the state’s share at $32 million a year. “It’s not a big sum,” he said, “but it would help the horse industry.” He told the paper there was no guarantee the Senate would consider the idea, but said he thought the House should have a bill ready “in case a possibility for cooperation should emerge.” He used Arkansas legislation which provides for 'instant racing' as his model.
The state attorney general had said that idea would be legal under Kentucky law with rewritten regulations.
(Harness Tracks of America)