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Kentucky Legislators: Greed Killed Casino Bill

KENTUCKY – As reported by Bloodhorse.com: "Kentucky legislators have left open the possibility expanded gambling could be revisited in the future, but they claim greed and resistance by the horse racing and breeding industry put a casino bill on the shelf for the 2004 session. Industry officials disagree with that perspective.

"The House Licensing and Occupations Committee was scheduled to vote March 10 on legislation sponsored by Rep. Larry Clark, a Louisville Democrat. But talks between Clark and the horse industry fell apart March 8, and no progress was made in the interim.

"…Rep. Denver Butler, also a Democrat, said the bill as introduced was workable, and given the economic climate and the fact hundreds of millions of dollars from Kentuckians are spent at riverboat casinos in neighboring states, the issue probably would come up again at some point.

"…Clark said staff had to 'baby sit' racetrack officials during the negotiations, and that the industry was in 'quicksand, and it kept moving around.' Clark said no gambling bill would pass unless it contains provisions for non-track casinos.

"…The bill currently calls for five racetrack casinos and four non-track casinos.

"…'I think a lot of them don't want competition,' Clark said of the tracks. 'Just putting (gaming) at the racetracks is selfish and shortsighted.'…"

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