Many Wonder What’s Next

The House of Delegates in West Virginia has chosen to pass 55-42 House Bill 2718, which will legalize table games in the state. Many were surprised by this move, as gambling proponents have been trying to add table games to the slot machines for years without success. Members of the House say it was a difficult decision, one that was not made without much discussion.

The group debated the bill and the impact that it would have on the state and whether or not the table game legalization would add to the growing slot machine gambling problem in the state. With a margin as small as it was, you can’t help but think that they didn’t really want to pass it. The bill does not legalize table games, rather it will allow the residents in the four counties that would be affected by it to vote as to whether or not they want them at the racetracks in their counties.

Many times it was brought up that the table games would not only seriously help the racetracks, but that they would also help the Northern Panhandle part of the state where economic conditions have been deteriorating for years. The number of jobs that it would being in was also a deciding factor.

The House listened to mostly Republicans who said that by passing this bill they were approving legislation that was unconstitutional. They said that the bill was simply expanding gambling past the slot machines and thus was not a good move for the state. Proponents of the bill maintained that yes it would expand gambling, but that it would also promote tourism.

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