Kentucky has heavily invested in their horse racing industry and a recent poll shows that state residents are in favor of helping the industry survive the economic crisis. The poll also indicates that majority of Kentucky state voters are in favor of casino gaming expansion in the state. The Kentucky Poll was made by research 2000 earlier this month.
The poll asked different questions regarding Kentucky and one particular question dealt with gaming expansion. When asked whether they are in favor of slot machine gaming expansion at Kentucky horse racing tracks, 45% of the poll respondents said yes. Their other options were expanding sales tax, closing business tax loopholes and cuts to health and education programs.
Only 30% of the poll respondents chose the three options aside from gambling. Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz said on May 10th, 2010 that Kentucky needs to find a way to solve the budget deficit and lawmakers have been studying the merits of casino gaming expansion as a solution to the problem.
Schwartz said that with that in mind, it seems only right that state residents would support gaming expansion over tax increases. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has been personally involved with gaming issues for the past year. Last summer, Beshear tried to unsuccessfully confiscate the domain names of 141 online gaming sites.
Beshear has also been lobbying lawmakers to add slot machines at Kentucky racing tracks. The Kentucky Derby was held last week and even the premier horse racing event in the industry was not enough to support the tracks.
Legislators are looking for ways aside from expanded gambling to help the racing industry survive during the economic recovery in the United States.
05/30/2010 13:35 PM
Richard Kennedy