The way it was promoted I thought the lottery was a good idea. Since I don't play, I liked the idea of a bunch of people voluntarily paying my taxes for me. However, years later, I still pay an unreal amount of state taxes with little resulting benefits.

If we are losing money to our neighbors then we should have the gambling in State. If one wants to gamble they will find a way, in or out of state. It may not help the state itself , but may help the communities a little.

I'm not against the gambling but I am skeptical of how much it will bring in as there will be a lot of competition from border states.

I'm not against the gambling but I am skeptical of how much it will bring in as there will be a lot of competition from border states.

 

I agree.

 

I think Beshear's estimates for the amount of revenue gambling will provide the state are a bit inflated as well. Considering the Office of the Governor is only one of many parts of the equation to legalize gambling, Beshear's economic claims are even more deceiving. This is probably my chief criticism of Fletcher's reelection campaign as they are hammering the "gambling is bad" rhetoric, and I would say most disagree with him, while they should be hammering about the irresponsibility of banking the financing of social programs on the legalization of gambling.

It would take a constitutional amendment to legalize casino gambling. That means that unlike many things the peope of the state would have a direct voice in deciding.

 

Let it go on the ballot and see what a majority of voters want. If it passes then the majority has spoken, if it doesn't then the majority has spoken as well.

It would take a constitutional amendment to legalize casino gambling. That means that unlike many things the peope of the state would have a direct voice in deciding.

 

Let it go on the ballot and see what a majority of voters want. If it passes then the majority has spoken, if it doesn't then the majority has spoken as well.

The majority does not always know what is best. If abolishing slavery was put to a vote in the South after Civil War was over, the majority would have voted to keep it.

 

I would think the majority of Americans would vote to abolish income taxes. That would be a horrible thing for this country. Nice for me. Horrible for the country.

If I hear one more Ky politician say that legalizing casino gambling in Ky will lead to massive problems for the state, I will puke.

Hey legislators, gambling is already legalized in this state, wake up!!!!

I can sit right here in the luxury of my home and gamble on anything from NCAA and Pro Sports to Horse Racing, 24/7, I can go out and buy hundreds of lottery tickets, Play Bingo, enter Texas Holdem tournaments, go to casino nights, play showdown and craps at church picnics and go to the Track for live action or simucasting. Yeah sure rltrace, but you can't play video slots.

the heck I can't, I can find more slot machines in 10 minutes online then there are at Caesar'sand Belterra combined.

Some legislators seem to think they are protecting our young, inexperienced citizens from the havoc that gambling can produce and in a small way that maybe true, but I have been to Caesar's many times and guess what? I see way more older folks walking with canes and pushing oxygen tanks than I do people under 25. So who are we protecting?

 

So stop it with this stupid righteous attitude, gambling is already rampant in this state. The state already has all the problems that gambling brings but very little of the profit. The simple fact is that alot of people like to gamble!!!

It's entertaining. Wake up this is 2007.

Your quote is correct, but you never address why it won't be a problem for the state. You just say that everyone is doing it, so why not make it legal. The same case is made by drug addicts as well. Just because everyone's doing it doesn't make it right. It has been proven that crime, prostitution, divorce, suicide and bankruptcy rates increase in areas surrounding casinos. The more difficult it is for them to get to it, the better chance we have of keeping people from ruining their lives (much like the drug habit).

 

I know that I love to go to casinos, and yes, I know my money goes into the IN coffers. But I also know that if I had one around me that was more convenient than the several hour drive I have now, I could easily become addicted to it. Some around here are already addicted, casinos would make that rate much worse.

Legalizing gambling in the state would not cause a terrible problem like many politicians are claiming. As rltrace stated earlier it practically is legal in the state already. It's easy enough to do that it should be anyway. If someone is naive enough to think that gambling only goes on in huge casinos and horse tracks and as long as the state of Kentucky doesnt have them it wont be a problem let me know...I promise I can find a card game within 20 minutes of your house.

 

This is just one of those topics that kills me about our nation. A few gambling addicts could ruin a good time for a large amount of our state. If a person wants to gamble badly enough, I assure you it can happen no matter what state they live in.When it comes to the issue of the government helping familes and not setting up ventures that hurt families... Why do we expect the government to protect us from our own stupidity so often ?

Legalizing gambling in the state would not cause a terrible problem like many politicians are claiming. As rltrace stated earlier it practically is legal in the state already. It's easy enough to do that it should be anyway. If someone is naive enough to think that gambling only goes on in huge casinos and horse tracks and as long as the state of Kentucky doesnt have them it wont be a problem let me know...I promise I can find a card game within 20 minutes of your house.

 

This is just one of those topics that kills me about our nation. A few gambling addicts could ruin a good time for a large amount of our state. If a person wants to gamble badly enough, I assure you it can happen no matter what state they live in.When it comes to the issue of the government helping familes and not setting up ventures that hurt families... Why do we expect the government to protect us from our own stupidity so often ?

 

Because we can't! Just look at who "We" elect for leadership sometimes. Look who's leading the pols in our governors race, and why. We need all the help we can get to protect us from our own stupidity.

I like to gamble and I control myself just find and it does me no harm what so ever and there are milions just like me when it comes to that. Why should I be penalized and not allowed to gamble at a casino in my own state because someone else cant handle it? Like it has already been stated anyone can gamble in KY already in various ways so why not put a casino in for people to enjoy. I guarantee that there are more people that can gamble responsibly then there are that cant. Its just plain stupid not to allow it.

I like to gamble and I control myself just find and it does me no harm what so ever and there are milions just like me when it comes to that. Why should I be penalized and not allowed to gamble at a casino in my own state because someone else cant handle it? Like it has already been stated anyone can gamble in KY already in various ways so why not put a casino in for people to enjoy. I guarantee that there are more people that can gamble responsibly then there are that cant. Its just plain stupid not to allow it.

 

After listening to Fletcher last night live, I am going to play devil's advocate here...

 

My parents are similar to you in that they like to gamble. They are able to control themselves and do it in a positive manner, imo. I guess the big problem is for the people that cannot control themselves (which sadly there are many of them). These are the people the state will be relying upon for increased revenue - and they would probably receive it.

 

As alluded to, many societal impacts do take place. An increase in suicide rates, notably with teenagers. Businesses around the casino are negatively effected. Increase in crime.

 

Again, I am just conveying some of the messages from the Governor. It is almost similar to these alcohol referendums that come about in smaller communities. People will protest the fact that crime is going to increase, people will by laying on the streets, prostitution everywhere, etc. (seriously, just some of the stuff I heard when Murray was going through this). Alcohol has had such a positive impact on Murray's community... and most are happy. However, the picture being painted was that of a Bourbon Street party going on every night, which is not the case. That is how I see the gambling issue in Kentucky.

 

Casinos/Gambling: It can be done with limitations in a safe and prosperous manner, imo. But, the image being protested is that casinos would be going up left and right across the state and we would look like the Vegas strip. I do not forsee that happening.

Let's take a tour of the sports world. NBA referee is convicted of gambling issues, maybe fixing some games and is threatening to bring other referees into the issue.

 

NFL and one of their stars going to prison for gambling on dog fights.

 

Peter Edward Rose still on the banished list of MLB alongside Shoeless Joe Jackson for his gambling issues.

 

Collegiate players in scam to fix games in point scandals.

 

You guys are right, gambling doesn't bring problems.

 

And for those who arguing that it is only a little gambling and that won't get you in trouble unless you don't have willpower and then it is your fault, were you the ones telling the 16 year old girl in the back seat of the car to "trust" you. You won't go THAT far.

 

I am not buying it. Gambling is wrong for this state. IMHO.

Let's take a tour of the sports world. NBA referee is convicted of gambling issues, maybe fixing some games and is threatening to bring other referees into the issue.

 

NFL and one of their stars going to prison for gambling on dog fights.

 

Peter Edward Rose still on the banished list of MLB alongside Shoeless Joe Jackson for his gambling issues.

 

Collegiate players in scam to fix games in point scandals.

 

What does this have to do with Casinos or slots at horse tracks? Any Kentuckian is capable of this whether it is 'legal' in the state or not.

I'm not into gambling, other than playing quarter skins on the golf course, but IMO it should be legal in Kentucky. Why have your citizens, who freely want to gamble, have to cross state lines to do so. I have several friends who make frequent trips to the casinos in Indiana, spend money that could be spent in Kentucky. The people I am talking about are going to occasionally gamble regardless of the distance or where they have to go. So, it might as well be in their home state. That way Kentucky gains the revenue, not Indiana.

I think that it should be restricted to race tracks that run a full card. That would help our world famous horse racing industry. Fletcher is just trying to rally a religious base to support him. I think he is dead wrong on this issue. But then I am Catholic and we don't have religious objections to reasonable and responsible gaming.