In Kentucky, the City-County Planning Commission of Warren County recently voted 7-3 against Kentucky Downs’ development plan that would have approved allowed a gambling facility on a 16-acre tract in Bowling Green, similar to Kentucky Downs’ Mint Gaming Hall in Franklin. The request was submitted by the BG Landco Corp. headed by Kentucky Downs owners Marc Falcone and Ronald Winchell.
In rejecting the proposal, Commissioner Dean Warren said, “We had to decide if this would help diversify the local economy, support tourism and enhance the community. I didn’t see that it would. I went strictly by what’s best for the community.”
The application requested a gambling facility offering historical horseracing machines plus a bar. It also asked for a 30-foot sign instead of the permitted 13 feet and for a decrease in the required landscape buffer along the western side.
Kentucky Downs’ efforts to open a gambling facility in Bowling Green and elsewhere are the result of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission voting in February to allow Kentucky Downs to expand to expand its licensed premises, plus the legislature legalizing HHR machines.
Bowling Green attorney Charles “Buzz” English, representing BG Landco, argued the proposed development would be a good fit in Bowling Green. “We anticipate that this facility will have a good number of employees and be the type of facility that will attract tourism,” English said. He added the gambling facility likely would attract new restaurants and other amenities. “We think the impact will be significant and very positive,” English said.
The commissioners and local pastor Ben Simpson disagreed. Simpson said, “This would be a blight on our community. These establishments are rigged to take advantage of people and prey on people. I strongly encourage you to protect our community from establishments such as this.”
Despite the defeat, English said Kentucky Downs would continue its efforts to expand into Bowling Green. “We’ll be reviewing all options, but it’s too soon to say what will happen. I think there will be historical horseracing machines in Bowling Green. It’s just a matter of where,” he stated.
