Casinos, Gambling and Gaming in KY

Figured this needed its own thread as to not take away from the teacher thread.

Lots of discussion on that already over there (maybe a mod can move it over?), but why are you for or against it in our state?

I am 100% in favor, simply for the fact that I think Kentuckians money should stay in Kentucky, and not be gifted to IN and OH because we can't pass a stupid law.

Great topic for discussion.

In short, this is supposed to be a Free Country, of course we should have Casinos.

I can't think of even one reason they shouldn't have been legalized years ago.

Agreed. It's a shame casinos and gaming haven't been universally legalized. Same goes for sports betting.

@Randy Parker, not to call you out, but I think you said you weren't the biggest proponent of casinos/gambling. I'd like to hear your perspective.

In favor of casinos and gambling.

The ponies have more power.

Right now, all I will say is this: Casinos in the southern half of Indiana fear Kentucky legalizing gaming MORE than expanded gaming in Indiana. They fear both, but because of the weirdness that is Indiana, people north of Indy don’t travel south at nearly the rate Kentuckians pour over the river to fill the coffers.

Right now, all I will say is this: Casinos in the southern half of Indiana fear Kentucky legalizing gaming MORE than expanded gaming in Indiana. They fear both, but because of the weirdness that is Indiana, people north of Indy don’t travel south at nearly the rate Kentuckians pour over the river to fill the coffers.

Coming from someone like you who obviously knows what she's talking about, this is all the reasoning anyone could need to make it happen in KY.

The ponies have more power.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I understand, the horse racing industry has been the biggest hurdle. Which is ironic, because in a few states, like Delaware and PA (states I've lived in), the addition of casino's with horse racing friendly stipulations, basically saved the industry. Higher purses, investments in breeding programs, etc, all from the casinos brought horse racing back from the edge. Now the horse racing industry in KY isn't in as much trouble as it was in those two states, but still the casinos and horse racing can absolutely co-exist.

@Randy Parker, not to call you out, but I think you said you weren't the biggest proponent of casinos/gambling. I'd like to hear your perspective.

I believe that gambling in general makes poor people poorer.

Before the spread of casino gambling, the IAV comments, the typical gambler was more affluent than average: it cost money to travel to Las Vegas. That's no longer true. Low-income workers and retirees provide the bulk of the customers for the modern casino industry. And because that industry becomes an important source of government revenue, the decision to allow casino gambling is a decision to shift the cost of government from the richer to the poorer, and, within the poor, to a subset of vulnerable people with addiction problems.

That's from a 2013 opinion article from CNN that better communicates some of my concerns. I'm a little more open to the idea than I was, say, five years ago. But I have to be honest in saying that it's not something I'm eager for Kentucky to jump in.

Here's the link to that article:

Opinion: The harm that casinos do - CNN

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I understand, the horse racing industry has been the biggest hurdle. Which is ironic, because in a few states, like Delaware and PA (states I've lived in), the addition of casino's with horse racing friendly stipulations, basically saved the industry. Higher purses, investments in breeding programs, etc, all from the casinos brought horse racing back from the edge. Now the horse racing industry in KY isn't in as much trouble as it was in those two states, but still the casinos and horse racing can absolutely co-exist.

In short, there is a lot of legislative money that funnels through horse racing in Kentucky. Read that how you want.

Coming from someone like you who obviously knows what she's talking about, this is all the reasoning anyone could need to make it happen in KY.

Thanks. I don’t think I have sat in one Exec meeting and NOT had the topic of Kentucky gaming come up. Additionally, we have a (for lack of a better term) lobbyist on our exec team who carries back and forth the info she learns at the statehouse. It’s not just the casinos as entities that worry. The IN State Legislature is worried as well. She is our parent company’s VP of Public Policy, but she serves our interests as well.

@Randy Parker, not to call you out, but I think you said you weren't the biggest proponent of casinos/gambling. I'd like to hear your perspective.

I believe that gambling in general makes poor people poorer.

 

Before the spread of casino gambling, the IAV comments, the typical gambler was more affluent than average: it cost money to travel to Las Vegas. That's no longer true. Low-income workers and retirees provide the bulk of the customers for the modern casino industry. And because that industry becomes an important source of government revenue, the decision to allow casino gambling is a decision to shift the cost of government from the richer to the poorer, and, within the poor, to a subset of vulnerable people with addiction problems.

 

That's from a 2013 opinion article from CNN that better communicates some of my concerns. I'm a little more open to the idea than I was, say, five years ago. But I have to be honest in saying that it's not something I'm eager for Kentucky to jump in.

 

Here's the link to that article:

 

Opinion: The harm that casinos do - CNN

The reason I'm more open to it than I used to be is that I've come to believe that if you're low-income and blow your money on gambling, then oh well.

The reason I'm more open to it than I used to be is that I've come to believe that if you're low-income and blow your money on gambling, then oh well.

I believe the same. Those same low income people are already gambling in some way. They are a lot of the people traveling to other states. They’re all in on Tuesday poker night, and first in line for lottery tickets. Let’s keep that gaming revenue in OUR coffers!