Kentucky Votes Against Casinos

03.27.2008 | 5:34 am | News, casinos, gambling

Kentucky must be one of the few states in the US where most forms of gambling are illegal, but there had been a glimmer of hope that this would change. Governor Steve Beshear had hoped to push through his plans for the introduction of 12 new casinos in the state, which he estimated would have brought in some $600 million a year in taxes and revenue for the authorities. While the idea seems to have been purely based upon the need to increase tax revenue, his plans were defeated in the “House”. So what next for the state of Kentucky?

The problem for the governor was the fact that he was already struggling to attract an acceptable majority to change the statute of the state and allow gambling – which was only part one of his master plan to introduce casinos. As he has not been able to muster enough support for this stage of his plan he has no chance of pushing through the additional changes prior to the 15th April deadline, meaning that Kentucky will remain casino free until at least 2010 when no doubt they authorities will try and push through a new amendment. So why are there no casinos in Kentucky?

While we have all seen the power of the anti-gambling movement in the US and the damage which they have done to the industry over the years, areas such as Kentucky have long been used as a focal point for various campaigning groups. Many of these groups are fearful that if the likes of Kentucky were to fall into the lap of the casino industry, then this would heap pressure on an array of other states in a similar situation. The gambling ban in the state goes back decades and many people actually feel this is out of date in the new free world, not to mention the fact that state budgets can benefit enormously from casino tax income – something which is said to have been at the heart of the recent move to change the laws.