Twin River Casino, based in Lincoln, Rhode Island, has contributed .125 million to fund a campaign to add two proposed measures to the November ballot allowing casino-style gambling at Colorado racetracks. One of the measures would authorize table games and slots at Arapahoe Park in Aurora, the only horserace track in the state, and at a future racetrack in each of Mesa and Pueblo counties. The other initiative would authorize video lottery terminals at the tracks. A portion of gaming revenue generated at the racetracks would be directed to K-12 education.
The committee behind the issues, Coloradans for Better Schools, is running the campaign through its Mile High USA subsidiary. Mile High operates Arapahoe Park. Coloradans for Better Schools must submit 86,105 certified signatures for each initiative by August 4. As of April 30, the group had spent nearly $408,000 and had $717,000 left for the campaign, according to official filings.
Casinos in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek are expected to help fund the fight against the two proposals. In addition, said Lois Rice, executive director of the Colorado Gaming Association, said the industry will use the issue committee Don’t Turn Racetracks Into Casinos to manage its campaign against Coloradans for Better Schools. The committee spent more than $3 million in 2003 to defeat a measure to add video lottery terminals at racetracks. Supporters had spent $6 million and lost by a 4-to-1 ratio.
