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Colorado House Speaker Opposes Slots at Tracks

COLORADO – As reported by the Pueblo Chieftain: "State House Speaker Lola Spradley on Tuesday reiterated her opposition to Amendment 33, the statewide ballot question that would allow race tracks to offer Colorado Lottery video slots.

"Spradley, standing in front of two nearly identical touchscreen video slot machines, one marked `traditional' and the other `video lottery terminal,' said she does not automatically oppose the expansion of gaming in Colorado if voters approve.

"However, any initiative should begin at the local level, she said.

"…Spradley and several other opponents of Amendment 33 appeared Tuesday in Pueblo as part of a campaign organized by the state's existing mountain casinos, the chief backers of the Don't Turn Race Tracks Into Casinos group.

"…The Colorado Gaming Association received special permission from the state to display the two video slot machines. The two machines of `Game King Keno' are identical except the payout from the lottery version must come in the form of an instantly redeemable cash voucher.

"Spradley echoed the mountain casinos' charge that backers of Amendment 33 are mostly interested in expanded gaming and not generating more Colorado Lottery proceeds for the state.

"…Spradley also criticized the measure for not earmarking part of any new Lottery proceeds to help support increased police and jail needs of the communities where the Lottery slots would get placed.

"…Spradley said she's also worried the Colorado Lottery slots would take business away from the existing mountain casinos, resulting in a drop-off in their state contributions for historic preservation funding…"

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