State Legislators Set to Decide on Casinos

Lawmakers in the US states of Kentucky and Delaware are set to deliberate this week on the future of gambling as state legislatures resume business for the start of 2010.

Kentucky
In Kentucky, legislators will begin discussion Tuesday on a proposal to allow video slot machines at the state's many horse racing tracks.

The state is in big financial trouble at the moment with a potential shortfall of $1.5 billion over the next two years, and the gambling proposal could prove more popular with the electorate than the alternative of tax increases.

Even Governor Steve Beshear has said he is open to all suggestions to solve the financial worries - a big shift for a man who had become notorious for his fight to seize domain names used by online gambling sites.

Delaware
In Delaware, lawmakers will discuss allowing for casino expansion. The tiny east coast state is already home to three land-based casinos, and the vote is shaping up somewhat surprisingly as a battle between pro-gambling lawmakers and the existing casinos.

The three casinos oppose expansion because their revenue would be affected, but House Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf, who is leading the push for casino expansion, says his responsibility is to all the people of Delaware and not just to the existing casinos.