Governor proposes amendment for casinos in Kentucky

Gov. Steve Beshear unveiled a long-anticipated proposal for a constitutional amendment Tuesday, Feb. 14 that would allow up to five racetrack casinos and two at other sites.

If passed, the amendment allows the General Assembly to authorize the establishment of casino gambling. Only five racetrack casinos would be allowed and two casinos at free-standing locations but not within 60 miles of a licensed horse track.

The proposed amendment is co-sponsored by Sen. Carroll Gibson, Republican Majority Whip and resident of Leitchfield and suggests that revenue from casinos could be used for education, veterans’ programs, health care, human services, public safety and local government as well as being a financial boon to the horse industry. However, there is not a good estimate of how much money the casinos could generate. Beshear estimates revenue in the hundres of millions of dollars.

Senate President David Williams and the senate majaority leader Robert Stivers immediately questioned the language of the amendment. Beshear expected opposition to the amendment Tuesday saying, “There is no reasonable argument that can be made about the purpose of this amendment, which is simply to let the people decide.”

Racetracks in Kentucky include Churchill Downs in Louisville, Keeneland and Red Mile in Lexington, Turfway in Florence, Thunder Ridge in Prestonburg, Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ellis Park in Henderson and Bluegrass Downs in Paducah. One racetrack license is available in Kentucky but it has never been awarded.

The proposed amendment needs three-fifths approval in both the House and the Senate, 60 representatives and 23 senators must approve, then the amendment is placed before Kentuckians in an election for ratification.