Table Gambling Vote Is Endorsed in West Virginia

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http://news-register.net/news/story/1217202003_new02.asp
Dec 17,2004

Support for legal table gambling in West Virginia is mounting among several Northern Panhandle lawmakers
Some Northern Panhandle legislators indicated they would support such legislation if it requires the final approval of table gambling by voters in a referendum in the counties where the tracks are located. Gov. Bob Wise has also gone on record as saying he would sign table gambling legislation as long as it had a local referendum option in it.

What makes this issue timely is the fact that neighboring Pennsylvania may legalize video slot machines at its race tracks later this year or next year. This could attract some customers from the Keystone State that now travel to West Virginia race tracks to play video slots.

Ohio County is home to Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center, where dog races are run, and Hancock County has Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort, where thoroughbred racing takes place.

The biggest revenue source for both tracks is video slot machines. The counties also get a cut of those revenues. If table gambling is allowed in West Virginia, the revenues both of these counties receive from their tracks could increase.

Ohio County Administrator Greg Stewart said the county receives about $1.8 million in revenues from video slot machine proceeds at Wheeling Island. This represents almost 19 percent of the county's $9.6 million budget.

Ohio County Commission Chairman Randy Wharton noted that table gambling would keep the Northern Panhandle's race tracks a step ahead of tracks in neighboring states, even if video slots are eventually allowed there.

"What they don't have right now is table games ... it would set West Virginia apart," Wharton said.

He believes permitting table gambling would be a strategic business move for West Virginia tracks.

"I think it's a good business decision on the part of the gaming people to get that," Wharton said.

Wharton stressed, however, that the people of Ohio County should decide, through a referendum, whether they want table gambling in their county.

"It should be a local referendum and people should be able to vote on it," he said."What's important is what the people want."

Commissioners in Hancock County have taken a much more assertive position regarding table gambling.

Hancock County Commissioner Dan Greathouse said he and his fellow commissioners launched a petition drive last September to obtain signatures in support of table gambling at Mountaineer Race Track.

"Our goal is 5,000 signatures," Greathouse said. "I'd like to get at least 10 percent of the county (population of about 32,000)."

The petitions, which Greathouse said will be circulated for another couple of weeks, will be taken to Charleston by him and his fellow county commissioners to be presented to state legislators and Gov. Wise.

Greathouse said Hancock County receives about $3.5 million as its cut of the video slot revenues from Mountaineer. Some of that is given to the cities in the county.

The push for table gambling at Mountaineer is all about jobs in Greathouse's view. He pointed to job losses, such as the impending loss of 950 jobs at nearby Weirton Steel, as a reason the county needs to seize any opportunity to create new jobs. He also supports the implementation of table gambling through a county referendum.

"Let the people of Hancock County determine where they want to go," he said. "This does create jobs. That's what the voters want."

Tamara Pettit, director of public relations at Mountaineer, cited the economy of Hancock County as a reason new jobs from table gambling should be an option for voters to decide.

"Right now the economic situation in Hancock County makes it absolutely imperative for economic development in the county," Pettit said.

Pettit pointed to the effect that video slots had on jobs at Mountaineer when they were first allowed at the track in 1994. She said direct employment at the track has grown from 342 to more than 1,700 jobs since 1994.

As far as table gambling's effect on Mountaineer, Pettit points to figures that suggest it would add another 400 jobs in Hancock County with a salary range of $22,000 to $95,000 and an average salary of $33,000.

She added that economic development professionals estimate that for every job in that salary range, another 2.5 to 3 jobs would be generated.

Del. Gil White, R-Ohio, said he would vote for a table gambling bill in next year's legislative session, as long is it contains the local referendum option.

""If Ohio County wants to see Wheeling Downs with table games, let the voters of Ohio County vote it up or down," White said. "I'm convinced it would pass (in referenda votes in Ohio and Hancock counties)."

While White would welcome the increased tax revenue table gambling would generate, he wants to see economic development lead the way to increased state revenues.

"I'm the first to say we've become too reliant on gambling revenues," White said. "We need 100 more Cabela's. That's the kind of economic growth we need to see throughout the state, but unfortunately that's not happening."

Sen. Andy McKenzie, R-Ohio, also supports a table gambling bill but only if it includes a local referendum provision.

"I will support a bill that would allow the citizens of Hancock and Ohio counties to hold a referendum," McKenzie said. "I have a 100 percent voting record when it comes to local referendums."

McKenzie noted he has never sponsored a bill relating to gambling in his legislative career. As to who in the Northern Panhandle would be willing to introduce such legislation, he said, "That is a question that myself and my colleagues from Hancock County are currently discussing."

Del. Joe DeLong, D-Hancock, holds the same view as McKenzie and White on table gambling.

"I definitely support legislation allowing it as a local (referendum) option," DeLong said.

"People should have the right to decide," DeLong added. "That's the way you give people the right to decide issues."

DeLong also does not want the state to become reliant on gambling revenues to balance its budget.

"I for one do not think we should allow our state to become gaming dependent," DeLong said.
 

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