Poker in DC Area?? We May Get LUCKY!

[Jeffage]

From the Charleston Gazette 3/04/05
http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/2005030336?pt=0


Gambling bill has powerful support

House leadership, unions throw weight behing table games

By Scott Finn
Staff writer

Powerful interests and lawmakers are lining up behind a bill to legalize table games at West Virginia four racetracks.

The bill was introduced Thursday, on the same day about 150 racetrack employees and supporters rallied at the state Cultural Center. It would allow voters in the four counties with racetracks — Kanawha, Ohio, Hancock, and Jefferson — to approve or reject table games.

Charleston Mayor Danny Jones challenged gambling opponents to come up with another way to increase employment in West Virginia. He estimated each of the four counties with racetracks would gain 500 well-paying jobs with benefits.

“What is your plan? Where are your 500 jobs?” he asked, sparking cheers from the crowd. “I think we are entitled to have the freedom as a county to vote on this proposal.”

The West Virginia Council of Churches is fighting the bill to legalize table games. At the very least, the group wants a statewide referendum on the issue.

“The voters statewide have a right to decide this issue,” said the Rev. Dennis Sparks, the council’s director. “If a person becomes a gambling addict, the entire state must pay the cost.”

For several years, gambling proponents have tried without success to legalize blackjack, poker, and other games run by live people.

Neighboring states either have or are close to approving video slot machines at their racetracks, which could cut West Virginia’s gambling jobs and government revenue.

“The timing is ripe, with Pennsylvania passing a bill [to legalize video slot machines],” said Ted Arneault, chief executive officer of MTR Gaming, the parent company of Mountaineer Racetrack and Gaming Center in Hancock County.

The bill has some powerful supporters in the House of Delegates, including Speaker Bob Kiss, D-Raleigh, Finance Chairman Harold Michael, D-Hardy, and Judiciary Chairman Jon Amores, D-Kanawha.

The head of the House labor caucus, Delegate Mike Caputo, D-Marion, also co-sponsors the bill. The Racing Association hired former state AFL-CIO leader Jim Bowen to lobby for the legislation. Many union members work at the tracks, where pay and benefits are often superior to similar jobs outside the gambling industry.

In the Senate, the sponsors included three Republicans: Sens. Karen Facemyer, R-Jackson, Charles Lanham, R-Mason, and Andy McKenzie, R-Ohio, as well as Judiciary Chairman Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, and Sen. Larry Edgell, D-Wetzel.

The proposed bill would give 12 percent of table game revenues to the state, and 88 percent to the racetracks.

That’s a lot less than the nearly 50-50 split the state receives from video lottery machines. Table game supporters say they have to pay a lot more in personnel costs to run table games, and that the cut is not out of line with other states.

Of the state’s cut of the gambling proceeds, 86 percent would go to the general revenue fund for lawmakers to spend as they see fit. Two percent each would go to the counties and municipalities where the tracks are located. Eight percent would pay for the purse, or prizes for the owners of horses and dogs. The remaining two percent would go to the state’s tourism promotion fund, which also helps promote the tracks, and a pension fund for racetrack employees.

Gov. Joe Manchin has said he would sign a bill that allows local referendums on table games. In 2003, Manchin was a speaker at a “racino” conference at Mountaineer, and in 2004, Arneault hosted a fundraiser for his campaign.

The state’s racetracks employ about 4,600 employees and produced $323 million in revenue for state government last year.

A recent study funded by the Racing Association found West Virginia could gain more than 1,700 jobs and keep gambling tax revenues from decreasing if table games are approved at all four of the state’s racetracks.

Without table games, state government would lose at least $58 million in tax revenue and 508 jobs by 2007 because of competition from Pennsylvania, which recently legalized slot machines at its racetracks, the report says.

Jeffrey Cox of Hurricane attended the rally. He works in housekeeping at Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center, one of about 800 employees at the Cross Lanes dog track.

Cox said he might apply for one of the table-games jobs if the bill passes and Kanawha County voters approve. He heard the jobs pay about $35,000 a year and include good health-care benefits.

“People want to play these games,” he said. “They shouldn’t be restricted in enjoying themselves the way they want.”

The Rev. Tom Grey, executive director of the National Coalition Against Gambling Expansion, said in November that West Virginia is addicted to gambling revenue and unwilling to seek treatment. Table games are only a temporary solution.

“That’s the denial argument: one more pull and I’ll quit,” Grey said. “You’re what I call a pathological gambling state. You are chasing your loss now.”

To contact staff writer Scott Finn, use e-mail or call 357-4323.

[cokehead]

I don't know WV too well... How close to DC are these counties?

[Jeffage]

Charlestown Racetrack is about one hour from downtown D.C. (give or take a few minutes). The other ones, I have no clue...but Charlestown would be where most D.C. people would go (I would think). Since poker is mentioned specifically in this article, I am holding out some hope.

Jeff

[VTDuffman]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't know WV too well... How close to DC are these counties?

[/ QUOTE ]

Jefferson County (Charlestown) Is about 45-60 mins away from DC, depending on how fast you drive+the traffic. I live in Loudon County, Jefferson is our neighbor to the north(westish) - it would be about 30-45 mins for me on a good day.

Charlestown would be closer to the DC area that Foxwoods is for most people in the New England Area.

[PoorLawyer]

i've been out to the track there once and it was 45 minutes from Arlington, straight out the Dulles toll road i think. It is funny how as soon as you cross into WV the road got all sketchy and I had to dodge a chicken in the road.
I really hope they pass this, as I just can't get teh motivation to go to AC as often as I would like.

[deathtoau]

Just so long as it is real poker and not 3-card or Caribbean Stud or the bullshit games. We can only hope.

[PennDenn]

You don't have to go to Charlestown. Just come to Baltimore.
Two card rooms have opened in the last year.
One in Arbutus and one just inside of the city line off of Russel St.
Cash games, tournaments etc....

[PhatCasino]

question is , what would the limits be? for all you know it might be as horrible as floridas 1-2 and 2-2 limit games with horrible rake and unplayable tourneys that cut too much off the top for the house

[Jeffage]

Obviously, I don't know what will ultimately happen. But this seems to be the strongest push I've ever seen for full casinos in the area. Also, I read in one article (which of course, I can't find now), that the study said there would have to be "no limits" placed on table games for them to succeed. That seems to imply $5 limits will not happen if indeed this bill is enacted.

Jeff

[PoorLawyer]

[ QUOTE ]
You don't have to go to Charlestown. Just come to Baltimore.
Two card rooms have opened in the last year.
One in Arbutus and one just inside of the city line off of Russel St.
Cash games, tournaments etc....

[/ QUOTE ]

i assume these are on the level of the NY rooms? i.e. illegal and they don't spread stud?