Obstacles to expanded gambling

Burka lays out the reasons why expanded gambling will have a tough road ahead in the Lege next year, even as budget writers openly speculate about it, and concludes it won’t happen. I think the situation is more fluid than he gives it credit for, but I definitely agree that competing interests between the racetrack and casino factions will be a hindrance. We saw this in the last session, and the dynamic is unlikely to change. Racetrack owners can make a credible argument they can generate cash for the state more quickly, but casino licenses are where the real tax revenue is. Eventually, anyway, which as I’ve said isn’t much help for this biennium. Anyway, it’s worth keeping this in mind. Even if the will exists for more gambling, what form it takes will be a fight that maybe no one can win.

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