The West Virginia legislature will form a select committee to review the laws, rules and regulations associated with Thoroughbred and greyhound racing and make recommendations for modernizing and identifying ways to boost revenue, including internet gambling. The committee also will undertake a “comprehensive investigation of appropriate governing structures for live racing and gaming activities,” and report back to the legislature in 2016.
The resolution to form the committee provides the history of racetrack gaming in the state, noting in the past it had little competition, but now 20 new casinos have opened in neighboring states. “Due to this competition, racing and gaming revenues upon which our state has become so dependent are decreasing at a rapid pace which creates a diminishing amount of money” for various programs. In addition to the loss of revenues for the state, the jobs of thousands of West Virginia families who rely on the live racing and gaming industries for their livelihood are also at risk,” the resolution states.
The resolution also indicates a study of the West Virginia Lottery, which oversees video lottery terminals and table games at four racinos and a casino at a historic hotel. In addition, the resolution calls for an examination of statutes that authorized local approval for racetrack gaming in the four racetrack host counties, as well as a review of statutory language that permits counties to repeal approval for VLTs or table games.
The review follows two recent studies on racing in West Virginia. One study by West Virginia University outlined the economic development impact of horse and dog racing in the state. Another report by Spectrum Gaming Group studied the dog racing and breeding industry, in anticipation of legislation to end greyhound racing in exchange for a buyout of owners and breeders. That measure failed in the 2015 session but the issue could be revisited in 2016.
The racing industry has been lobbying for advance deposit wagering and historical race wagering. It also wants lawmakers to consider EquiLottery, a proposed game linking state lotteries and parimutuel horse racing.
