Expanded Gambling

Illinois Senate Working to Improve Odds for Gambling Bill

Whitney Jones and The Associated Press — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:27:44 +0000

Supporters of a gambling expansion proposal are making changes to the legislation in an attempt to improve its chances with the Illinois Legislature and Gov. Pat Quinn.

Rikeesha Phelon is a spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton. She says Cullerton plans to strip language from the bill that would legalize Internet gaming and let lawmakers consider it as a separate measure.

Illinois Senators Concerned About Gambling, Corruption

Whitney Jones and The Associated Press — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:28:12 +0000

A key Senate committee is meeting to discuss concerns that expanding gambling would open the door to political corruption and organized crime.

Senate President John Cullerton invited representatives of the Illinois Gaming Board and the Chicago Crime Commission to appear before the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday . Cullerton’s spokesperson Rikeesha Phelon says the Chicago Democrat wants to try to find a way to address the issue. But she says Cullerton has doubts about whether the concerns are legitimate or "hyperbole" intended to derail the measure.

House Leaders Considering Instant Racing Legalization to Help Pay for Pensions

Kenny Colston — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:14:06 +0000

Kentucky House leaders are considering legalizing Instant Racing across Kentucky to help plug the funding gap in the state's pensions.

KY Gambling Proponents Unsure on How to Proceed

Whitney Jones and The Associated Press — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:13:09 +0000

Gov. Steve Beshear says disagreement among gambling advocates has made it unlikely that the Legislature can pass a constitutional amendment on casinos this year. Beshear says Kentucky's horse racing industry is divided on how to proceed, which has weakened the chances of passing an amendment.

Despite a long history of wagering on horses, Kentucky has a constitutional ban on casino-style gambling. And many lawmakers have been reluctant to vote to change that, knowing they may face disapproving constituents in future elections.

Beshear: 'Too Early' on Whether Gambling Bill Will Be Filed

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:18:30 +0000

The clock is ticking on the current legislative session, but efforts to push expanded gambling in the 2013 are still on-going, Gov. Steve Beshear said.

“I think it’s too early to reach a conclusion yet on whether we will have a bill on expanded gaming, you know we’ve got some issues to be resolved," he said.

Beshear is facing a recurring problems since he took office in 2007 and began lobbying for expanded gambling. The state senate won’t pass any gambling amendment that gives a monopoly to horse racing tracks, but some tracks don’t want gambling if they aren’t promised protections.

KPR's Colston Sets Up 2013 Kentucky Legislative Session

Chad Lampe — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 20:58:11 +0000

Pension reform, updating liquor laws, expanded gaming, a state-wide smoking ban and legalizing the production of industrial hemp are just a few issues Kentucky Public Radio Capitol Bureau Chief Kenny Colston thinks will be on the agenda for this year's legislative session in Frankfort. Colston speaks with Chad Lampe about the details surrounding some of those issues and who will fill retiring Sen. Ken Winters's (R-Murray) seat on the senate education committee. Plus, hear if there are any hard feeling between Sen. Bob Leeper (I-Paducah) and Senate President-elect Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) after his failed attempt at seeking the top post in the Senate.

Kentucky Lawmakers Optimistic Gambling Bill Will Pass

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 11:43:56 +0000

After years of defeat, Kentucky lawmakers believe an expanded gambling bill could become law next year. At the Kentucky Chamber’s annual policy day, House Speaker Greg Stumbo and new Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer discussed the prospects of such a bill in the upcoming session. Both leaders suggested the opposing chamber take up the bill first when they get to Frankfort next month.

Thayer was the sponsor of a Senate gambling bill in this year's session. The measure ultimately failed. But Thayer says the Senate can pass a new bill if the governor pushes hard enough.

Stumbo: Gambling Bill Doesn't Have to Start in the Senate

Angela Hatton and The Associated Press — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:34:33 +0000

Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo is no longer demanding that any legislation calling for a constitutional amendment to legalize gambling start in the Senate. Stumbo told reporters Thursday, "that line in the sand doesn't have to be drawn any longer." Stumbo and Governor Steve Beshear are hopeful that the departure of Senate President David Williams will improve the chances of getting a bill passed.

Gov. Quinn rejects plan to expand Ill. gambling

Todd Hatton and The Associated Press — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:46:20 +0000

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has rejected a plan to expand gambling in the state. Quinn announced his veto yesterday, saying the proposed bill lacked sufficient regulatory oversight. The bill proposed five new casinos, one land-based and four more on riverboats.

Expanded Gaming Discussed on Kentucky Tonight

Stu Johnson (KPR) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:27:41 +0000

The President of Kentucky Downs Racetrack says the expanded gambling issue isn’t going to go away, even after the state Senate rejected a constitutional amendment on the subject last week. Corey Johnson also chairs the Kentucky Equine Education Project. He says gambling revenues in other states continue to lure breeders away from the Commonwealth.

‘It takes human beings to take care of horses so when the horse leave, the jobs go away so it is a very, very..we have hundreds of stallions who have left the state.”