Kentucky Casinos

One-armed bandits, poker and blackjack tables could soon be among your entertainment options, and you won't have to travel out of state. Supporters of a move to legalize casino gambling in Kentucky are using some pretty convincing logic to argue their case, along with some strong research. One organization leading this effort calls itself the Kentucky Equine Education Project. It proclaims casino gambling limited to racetracks to be the savior of the threatened horse industry and at the same time a source of new revenue for state and local government. Among its members is former governor Brereton Jones, a Woodford County horseman. The argument for allowing casinos in Kentucky is twofold. KEEP says it would take back some of the revenue being lost to Indiana and Illinois, as our citizens with a will to risk their earnings now travel across rivers and borders, depositing "sin" taxes into the coffers of those states, tens of millions of dollars that could be used to solve problems here. At the same time, revenue from the establishment of Kentucky casinos would be used to enhance purses at our horse competitions, luring hungry competitors back to our state, a move that would strengthen that floundering industry. The plan relies on the approval of a consitutional amendment, which would first have to be placed on the ballot by the General Assembly and then would require the approval of the voters.

So, KEEP is asking Kentucky to gamble, both literally and figuratively. Before the first casino door would open, legislators would have to gamble that a favorable vote on such a measure would not damage their chances for reelection this year; the government would be betting that the casinos would in fact generate the money KEEP suggests; and the voters would have to accept the risk that the presence of this kind of activity would not have a detrimental effect on their communities. KEEP, of course, points to research indicating that none of this is much of a gamble. Statistics from studies on everything from the economic impact of casinos - now in 11 states - to the concerns of increased gambling addiction are available on its Web site (www.equinealliance.com). All show that the advantages are great, the disadvantages minimal or non-existent. The organization even goes so far as to predict the revenue its plan would create for every county in Kentucky, category by category. KEEP has even found a way to distance itself and its plan from the unkept promises of the Kentucky Lottery, at least those perceived. KEEP's proposal would guarantee the distribution of casino gambling proceeds in the same constitutional amendment legalizing it, taking the task away from whimsical legislators. And the group says it will oppose any bill without such a provision.