Governor’s Gambling Bill IN Kentucky Draws Sharp Criticism
Governor’s Gambling Bill IN Kentucky Draws Sharp Criticism
Several years ago, Governor Steve Beshear went after the online gambling industry, attempting to seize the domain names of 141 online casino sites. That effort failed to hold up in court, although the battle is ongoing.This week, Beshear showed that he is not entirely against gambling. The governor finally unveiled his long-anticipated gambling expansion plan for Kentucky, and critics have already come out blasting the grand scope of the proposed expansion.If approved, Beshear’s bill would allow for seven new gaming facilities in Kentucky. The majority of these casinos would be placed at existing race tracks. It is an effort to try and help a racing industry that once was a major contributor to the economy in the state.”The issue of expanded gambling, after nearly two decades of debate, has reached a tipping point,” said Beshear. “Recently, the people of this state were polled by two separate organizations, including the state Republican Party. Both surveys found that more than 80% of the people of this state, regardless of whether they support expanded gambling or are against it, want the right to vote on it. The question is simple: Do we as leaders listen to our people, or do we ignore them?”That may be a difficult question for Beshear to answer. When his administration attempted to seize the domain names of the online gambling sites, many Kentucky residents were upset. At the time, Beshear chose to continue his assault on the online gaming sites despite the criticism of the masses in Kentucky.Opposition groups do not want Kentucky turning into a Las Vegas, with casino gambling on nearly every corner. The state has its roots as being Conservative, and the Beshear gambling expansion plan is certain to come up against stiff competition. The debate is expected to be drawn across party lines, but Beshear does hold the advantage of having his party’s support on the issue. February 14, 2012Posted By Tom JonesStaff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.comSubmit News!
