Kentucky candidate to expand gambling
Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear, who is also a candidate for governor, plans to expand gambling and legalise casinos in the state.
US.- The industry continues to grow in the US and Kentucky may soon expand gambling. The candidate for governor and Attorney General Andy Beshear advanced that he plans to legalise casinos, sports betting and online poker.
“Expanded gaming is a long-overdue and common-sense way to make Kentucky more competitive. It will also protect the hard-earned pensions of our teachers and first responders,” said Beshear. “While Matt Bevin is making up excuses and false claims, Indiana and our neighbouring states continue to steal our revenue. I’ll always put the best interests of our people first – and that includes expanding gaming to create new opportunities here in Kentucky.”
Republican Governor Bevin has previously shown reluctance regarding the gambling industry.
Previous statements
Beshear had already voiced his support back in November 2018.
“The solution is not to cut legally promised benefits, but to create a new stream of revenue dedicated solely to pensions that does not raise any Kentuckian’s taxes,” the Attorney General said in a letter to members of the state’s General Assembly and added: “The answer should be simple – expanded gaming including casino, fantasy sports, and sports gaming, as well as preparing for the eventual legalization of online poker.”
Mr Beshear based his request on an American Gaming Association’s report that showed the commercial gaming industry brought in more than US$40 billion in gaming revenue from 24 states in 2017. Out of that income, states got over US$9 billion in revenue just from commercial gaming taxes.
“Tax revenues in these states from gaming now total more than $2.4 billion per year,” he wrote about locals’ gambling trips to Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, and Ohio and added: “These states use these dollars – many of which come from Kentuckians – to improve Indiana’s schools, West Virginia’s infrastructure, and these states could even use our dollars to fund their pensions.”
