Michigan Looking at Racinos Again

Every once in awhile the term racino comes out to play, while lawmakers in Michigan decide whether or not they can swing their budget. Every time they start looking at numbers, out comes the idea of legalizing slot machines at the state’s racetracks, which could bring them in somewhere between $400-500 million a year. Some say they could be looking at somewhere around $1.7 billion a year at six sites – and that is money they could use.

Casino owners in the state are opposed to the legalization of the slot machines at anywhere but where they are now, but the state needs to take a hard look at where they are going with their finances. If the slot machines are legalized, there would be no need for new taxes – which would make residents happy as well. The track officials are very excited about it, as they say they are in dire need of revenue.

The tracks have been trying for years to get slot machines, but have continued to be voted down as the casinos control the gambling in the state. They say that they don’t know how much longer they can survive without the additional revenue. But if they got the slot machines, they could start offering bigger purses which would eventually help to bring in more business.

However, one of the tracks is located in Fruitport Township, and would have to be approved in that township to have the slot machines. Fruitport Township Supervisor Ron Cooper says that there is no way they would allow slot machines in their town. He says that they will not help the town, nor does he think that they would help the track. He says they lost $1.8 million last year, and adding slot machines to that would not help.

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