Virginia Would Benefit From Slot Machines

With the Senate having approved it, and the House looking like it might, Virginia may soon see glorified slot machines at the Colonial Downs track and their off betting parlors. The track is trying to get a bill passed that would allow them to bring in horse betting machines, which opponents say are simply slot machines in disguise.

The bill would allow the slot machines to come in, and estimates have the revenue from them as high as $600 million. Of that money, half would go to the state for their transportation projects, 4% would go to the horsemen, and Colonial Downs would get 43%. The rest would go to local governments and the state’s tourism industry.

With opponents hollering that they are slot machines, supporters say not so – as slot machines are games of chance. They say that the new horse racing machines are games of skill, as you are given statistics about the horses, etc. before you place your bet. Therefore you are making an informed decision, and skill is involved. They say that if none of that information was given, then and only then, would it be a slot machine.

Some who support it say it is just an expansion of the lottery and off track betting that is currently allowed. They say it isn’t like they are opening a casino with slot machines or table games; this is just a game of skill. They say that under current law, the track may be able to bring in the games whether or not the measure is approved.

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