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Anti-Gambling Groups Geared Up Again
With
the House of Representatives of West
Virginia having passed the table games
bill (House Bill 2718), it is now on to
the Senate as Senate Bill 369. Many
think that there is no chance of the
bill passing the Senate as they are
notorious for not allowing any kind of
expansion of gambling – but just as many
think they have a good shot this year.
The bills will allow residents in the
state’s four counties that have
racetracks to decide whether or not they
are going to allow table games to join
the slot machines that they already
have. With neighboring states legalizing
slot machines, West Virginia thinks it
only prudent to add table games in order
to try and offer their customers more
than they would get across the state
line.
However, with PA’s new video lottery
system just months away from being
online, experts say that the tracks are
going to lose revenue to that whether or
not table games are legalized. However,
those against the expanded gambling say
that they are going to fight tooth and
nail to keep the games from being
legalized. The group, West Virginia
Values Coalition, has many religious and
civil leaders pushing for the
denouncement of the bill.
They say that it may seem like all they
are doing is adding table games to the
existing slot machines, but what they
are adding is much worse. They said that
the table games would add much more
damage and social ills to the state than
they are already facing with just the
slot machines. They say that West
Virginians have never asked for table
games, that it has been the tracks and
the government that are pushing for
them, and they are asking residents to
come out against the bill. They stand a
good chance of winning, for many have
already joined their side.
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