‘Games of skill’ could add $28 million to Kentucky purses
March 5, 2010,by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Manager
Columbus, OH — Legislation filed this week in the Kentucky House would allow “electronic games of skill” to be installed at the state’s racetracks, which could generate more than $28 million for purses and $3.14 million for purse supplements, breeders awards and other incentives.
According to a story in the Lexington Herald-Leader, House Bill 601 would let racetracks install video poker and blackjack, and games such as Instant Racing, which lets players bet on replays of previously run races.
The bill was filed by Rep. Harry Moberly, D-Richmond, who told the paper he introduced the bill to help the state’s horse industry, which has been unsuccessful in its bid to get slot machines at racetracks.
“We think that because these are much more like video games that they would be much more acceptable to people than just pure games of chance,” Moberly was quoted in the Herald-Leader story.
The bill designates 13.5 percent of money that is not paid to bettors be used for purses for live horse racing. An additional 1.5 percent would go into purse supplements, breeders’ awards, owners’ awards and stallion awards.
Moberly’s bill would not allow local governments to block expanded gambling at tracks or impose additional taxes, but voters could stop it. The bill would require a local voter referendum 60 to 90 days after preliminary approval of a track’s license application to the lottery corporation.
- ‘Instant Racing’ moves forward in Kentucky (Friday, March 12, 2010)
A Kentucky Senate committee approved a proposal which would allow racetracks to add electronic gambling commonly known as “Instant Racing,” which offers wagering on random previously run races.
- Instant Racing put in legislative limbo in Kentucky (Wednesday, March 17, 2010)
Members of the Kentucky Senate may not have to vote on what to some might be an unpopular expansion of gaming in the state.
- Kentucky Instant Racing bill is dead (Friday, March 26, 2010)
State Senator Damon Thayer of Kentucky has administered last rites to his Instant Racing bill, at least for the moment, in the absence of enough votes to pass it and opposition to it.