Will Table Games Bill Pass?

With the House of Delegates of West Virginia passing HB2718, which will allow voters in certain counties to vote as to whether or not table games should be added to the existing slot machines at their county racetracks, it is now up to the Senate as to whether or not the bill will become a reality. Many say that they are lumping the table games in with the existing slot machines, and that they are two different beasts and should not be put on the same table.

Many feel that the slot machines are offensive, but they do not feel the same way about the table games. They say that with the slot machines you are simply throwing money away, but with the table games there is a certain amount of skill involved in winning. But that is not the real reason why they want to see the games legalized, they think that the revenue from them will be able to assist with a state debt that is in the millions.

The state will ultimately end up getting 35% of the revenue from the games of which 79% goes straight to debt relief. But the bill has to pass the Senate first, where they will either approve it the way it is, or make changes. If they make significant changes, it will have to go back to the House for approval again.

If it is approved the way it is, the tracks would pay the state a $1.5 million licensing fee the first year, then $2.5 million each year after that. Those monies are earmarked for in-home health care for seniors. The state will use the majority of the 35% they get from revenue to assist with the state debt, and the rest will be split between racetrack purses, thoroughbred and greyhound breeders, pensions, with the rest going to the counties that have the table games.

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