Casino, horsy set gave heavily
By Janet Patton And Ryan Alessi
JPATTON@HERALD-LEADER.COM
Donors from the horse and casino industries -- including the co-owners of the Island View Casino of Gulfport, Miss. -- pumped about a half-million dollars into a little-known Democratic Party fund-raising committee last fall.
Nearly 40 people connected to those interests accounted for about 28 percent of the money raised by the Kentucky Victory 2007 committee. The Democratic National Committee set up that fund-raising entity with the Kentucky Democratic Party in June.
Federal Election Commission reports show that $117,000 of the Victory Committee's money went directly to the Kentucky Democratic Party, which was supporting Gov. Steve Beshear's campaign in the 2007 election.
Throughout last fall, casino, racetrack officials and horse owners and breeders gave heavily, shelling out at least $489,500 to the Kentucky Victory Committee, according to a Herald-Leader analysis.
I am passing along this post from a concerned citizen. This was a reply to an earlier post I made concerning CASINO GAMBLING.
Look at the date KEEP FILED THEIR BILL!LOOK HOW MUCH GOES TO HORSES, RATHER THAN PEOPLE.
IT IS DISGRACEFUL.AND DOES NOT OFFER MUCH "SUNSHINE", AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES. Are we the voters and citizens of the Commonwealth, going to be overwhelmed with Casino money and Thoroughbred money?
Mr. Stivers,
I just googled "Kentucky casino gambling at racetracks" and found an interesting article from National Thoroughbred Racing Association dated 11/9/2007.
Check out this paragraph:
"One of the principal players in horse-industry lobbying is the Kentucky Equine Education Project, which was formed in 2004 and two years later presented a bill to the legislature that would give the racing industry 64 percent of an estimated $1.2 billion in casino proceeds. The chairman of the organization, Brereton Jones, is a horse breeder and former Kentucky governor. During 2006, when the legislature last considered expanded gambling, the group spent millions of dollars on advertising that supported casinos at racetracks."
Did you catch the part: "two years later [KEEP] presented a bill to the legislature that would give the racing industry 64 percent of an estimated $1.2 billion in casino proceeds. The chairman of the organization, Brereton Jones, is a horse breeder and former Kentucky governor."
Do you think that's why Beshear is being so deceitful about Boswell's bill? Do you think Beshear will push for the racing industry to get 64% of casino proceeds? Man! Those are some greedy people!
We've got a high rate of both adults & children uninsured, a high poverty rate and need more funding so more children can afford college and these greedy horse people have ALREADY presented a Bill that would allow them 64% of casino proceeds. THAT'S what drives Gov. Beshear ... he stands to personally benefit from such a bill.
Posted by: BrerJoneswants64%CasinoProceeds | January 11, 2008 at 05:42 PM
Posted by: Jim Anderson Stivers | January 12, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Did you see the report in the Herald Leader this morning (Saturday) of the donors who back doored the system and gave huge amounts to the DNC as a pass thru for Steve Beshear?
It was mostly owners and breeders of Thoroughbreds. This is a business opportunity for them, but at the expense of health care, education and all those desperate needs our Commonwealth has.
A Mr. Yung, owner of the troubled Tropicana Casino, in VEGAS and other Casino's, was the largest donor.
Yung, gave over $38,000 to the DNC to back door money to the KDP. Since Mr. Young was the largest donor then does that mean Mr. Yung and his crooked dealings and flop house Casinos will be eligible to apply for a license?
YES, I GUARANTEE IT.
In addition, Yung is have difficulty getting a license renewal for the Tropicana.
You can read more: Google TROPICANA CASINO.
The problems with Mr. Yung's Casino developed some time back, and yet the DNC and the KDP took his $38,000. That is just sickening.
Posted by: Jim Anderson Stivers | January 12, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Presented by the Federal Election Commission
Contributions Arranged By Type And Recipient
YUNG, WILLIAM J III
NAPLES, FL 34119
PRESIDENTCOLUMBIA SUSSEX CO.
Posted by: Jim Anderson Stivers | January 12, 2008 at 10:20 AM
I know someone wrote recently about BOPTROT? was it, but I'm afraid I don't remember the particulars enough to discuss it.(Grandbabies were visiting at the time)--I just remember thinking that we definitely DON'T want those type people here running ANY KIND OF BUSINESS HERE IN KY. Could anyone here please refresh our memories on this??
Posted by: NurseTeacher | January 12, 2008 at 10:22 AM
I find it amazing that these people were bought and paid for, involving as little as $3000 bucks. (If Casino's come, the price of POKER GOES from a few thousands, to perhaps much, much more.) jas
Operation Boptrot
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Operation Boptrot, also referred to as Boptrot, was an investigation by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into corruption among the state of Kentucky's legislature. The operation was highly successful, leading to the conviction of more than a dozen legislators between 1992 and 1995. The investigation also led to reform legislation being passed in 1993.
The sting, dubbed Operation Boptrot, involved legislators who accepted bribes and other illegal inducements to support horse-racing legislation in KY. The FBI's original target was the Kentucky General Assembly's Business, Organization, and Professions Committees (the "BOP" in BOPTROT), which oversaw state laws regulating horse racing (the "trot" in BOPTROT).
Convictions as a result of Boptrot
House Speaker Don Blandford pleaded guilty after 1992 indictment on charges of extortion, racketeering and lying. He was sentenced to 64 months in prison and was fined $10,000.
Sen. John Hall pleaded guilty to conspiracy and other charges stemming from 1992 indictment in Operation BopTrot.
Rep. Clay Crupper pleaded guilty after 1992 indictment and was fined $10,000 on charges of interstate travel in aide of racketeering.
Rep. Ronny Layman was indicted in 1992 on charges of conspiracy to commit extortion and lying to the FBI. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months of home detention and community service.
Rep. Bill McBee was sentenced to a 15-month prison term for his role in Operation BopTrot.
Rep. Jerry Bronger was indicted in 1992 and later pleaded guilty to charges that he accepted $2,000 in exchange for blocking legislation that would hurt harness race tracks. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison.
Sen. Helen Garrett was charged in 1992 with taking a $2,000 bribe from a track in exchange for helping pass legislation. She pleaded guilty and received four years probation.
Sen. David LeMaster was indicted in 1993, and acquitted of extortion and racketeering, but convicted of lying. He was sentenced to a year in prison and fined $30,000, but served just one day after resigning from the legislature.
Sen. Art Schmidt pleaded guilty to a 1993 indictment for withholding fact that he took a $20 cash payment from another senator tied to Operation BopTrot. He was sentenced to probation and fined $2,500.
Sen. Patti Weaver pleaded guilty after 1993 indictment charging that she was promised help finding a job in exchange for support of legislation. She was sentenced to weekend incarceration, probation and community service and was fined $10,000.
Sen. Virgil Pearman pleaded guilty after 1993 indictment charging that he took an illegal $3,000 campaign contribution. He was sentenced to three months in a halfway house, probation and was fined $5,000.
Rep.
Bill Strong pleaded guilty after 1993 indictment charges that he took an illegal $3,000 campaign contribution and did not deposit the money into his campaign fund. He was sentenced to three months in a halfway house, probation and was fined $3,000.
Sen. Landon Sexton pleaded guilty after 1994 indictment charging that he took an illegal $5,000 cash campaign contribution. He was sentenced to 15 consecutive weekends in jail, home detention for two months and probation for two years. In addition he was fined $5,000.
Rep. Richard Turner plead guilty to a 1993 charge that he filed a false campaign finance report. Charges that he took an illegal $3,000 cash campaign contribution were dropped.
Sen. John Rogers was sentenced in 1994 to 42 months in prison after conviction on charges of extortion, conspiracy, attempted extortion, mail fraud and lying to the FBI.
Posted by: Jim Anderson Stivers | January 12, 2008 at 10:36 AM
JAS: Yung & Family donated $56,500.00 to Beshear & Democrats... at least that's what I found:
If you get on the Kentucky Secretary of State website & do a search on Mr. Yung - you'll find he gambles quite a bit on businesses in Kentucky and around the country ... including Atlantic City casinos.
Link to Yung: http://apps.sos.ky.gov/business/obdb/offsearch.aspx?sf=William&sm=J&sl=Yung
One important Kentucky based Company Yung is President of is Columbia Sussex Corporation Inc. which is the parent Company of the Tropicana Casino and Resorts Inc.
Apparently the Kentucky-based Tropicana run casino/hotel in Atlantic City is the LARGEST casino hotel in Atlantic city and it is NOT making money. Hmm... not making money?
In fact, if you read the CBS News article (above) you'll find that the Kentucky based casino in Atlantic City has had a year of "turmoil that included massive layoffs, problems with cleanliness and service, and poor compliance with state casino regulations."
hmmm... so the Kentucky based Tropicana casino/hotel has had problems with "poor compliance with state casino regulations?" Great, that's all we need to add to Kentucky's problems - a casino company that doesn't follow state casino regs.
The problems of "massive layoffs, cleanliness and service" is also very troubling to this Kentucky resident.
.... so much for casinos being the cure-all for healthcare, education, pensions, etc.
Bill Yung of Naples, Fla., who is the president of Columbia Sussex Co., which owns several Tropicana casino/hotels just lost their license in Atlantic City because of "poor compliance with state casino regulations."
Yung's Atlantic City Tropicana has had a year of turmoil because they have been LOSING MONEY due to bugs being found in beds, other cleanliness issues with the Kitchen and have had to endure massive lays.,
William Yung donated:
- $38,500 to the Dems fund, which was set up to help the democratic slate of candidates in Kentucky.
- $10,000 to the Beshear-Mongiardo Inauguration Committee.
William Yung and his family donated:
- $8,000 to the Beshear-Mongiardo Campaign
YUNG & Family - total donated amount
$58,500.00
I wonder how much money other Yung Associates donated to Beshear?
Posted by: Beshear is a disappointment | January 12, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Thanks for the Boptrot info Jim. All of this casino business is really scary to think of it coming here to Ky. Thank you for all you are doing to help keep it out of our home!!
Posted by: Nurse Teacher | January 12, 2008 at 10:46 AM
JAS - 64% casino proceeds to horse industry?
Thanks for the article showing Brer Jones wants the horsy people to get 64% of the casino proceeds .. 64%!!!! WOW.
All this uproar and future turmoil casinos would cause to our social and economic life is ALL FOR Brer Jones, Steve Beshear & their horsy friends to get ...
.. 64% of casino proceeds.
Who is looking out for the people?
Posted by: 64%toBeshear/Jones/Horsyfriends | January 12, 2008 at 10:49 AM
JAS- I hope my post above at 10:45 isn't too confusing. I lifted some posts from other places on this blog and put them in that comment.
Posted by: Beshear is a disappointment | January 12, 2008 at 11:03 AM
I wonder if any of these people also gave to Stumbo recently. This drive for casinos has been going on for years. But they had to get rid of a Christian conservative governor first.
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 12, 2008 at 11:18 AM
I did not see the OTHER DONATIONS.
Why would a business man give $56,000 bucks to a politico?
To get a voice at the table and perhaps some special consideration. Don't think it does not happen. It happened in BOPTROT.
Now the stakes are higher and the take is much larger for the potential Casino owners.
The only people that WIN, WIN in this issue is the CASINO OWNERS and THE THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS AND OWNERS.
I can understand why Brer Jones and KEEP are pushing so hard on this issue, KEEP GETS
64% OF 1.2 BILLION DOLLARS.
That is outrageous and the public should not allow it to happen.
Stand up Kentucky Citizens. Go the window and shout, "I sick and tired of this and I am not going to put up with anymore.!
(From Network Movie)
It will take at least two years to see any cash flow from Casinos. In the interim the current administration is expecting to get close to $300 Million just for the license.
And, that is wrong, the STATE OF KENTUCKY SHOULD OWN THE LICENSE. THAT WAY IT DOES AWAY WITH ANY POTENTIAL for a License holder to come in, show some profit and then sell the license to someone else.
There is a lot more here than we are being told.
JAS in Frankfort
Posted by: Jim Anderson Stivers | January 12, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Mr. Alessi - I've seen where someone asked you this before but I didn't see if you ever replied so I'm going to ask:
Have you ever asked Gov. Beshear his thoughts on the CURRENT casino bills on the senate floor - SB19 and SB20? If you have asked Gov. Beshear his thoughts on that bill - what did he say?
Posted by: Beshear - SB19 & SB20 | January 12, 2008 at 11:45 AM
I did not see the OTHER DONATIONS.
Why would a business man give $56,000 bucks to a politico?
To get a voice at the table and perhaps some special consideration. Don't think it does not happen. It happened in BOPTROT.
Now the stakes are higher and the take is much larger for the potential Casino owners.
The only people that WIN, WIN in this issue is the CASINO OWNERS and THE THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS AND OWNERS.
I can understand why Brer Jones and KEEP are pushing so hard on this issue, KEEP GETS
64% OF 1.2 BILLION DOLLARS.
That is outrageous and the public should not allow it to happen.
Stand up Kentucky Citizens. Go the window and shout, "I sick and tired of this and I am not going to put up with anymore.!
(From Network Movie)
It will take at least two years to see any cash flow from Casinos. In the interim the current administration is expecting to get close to $300 Million just for the license.
And, that is wrong, the STATE OF KENTUCKY SHOULD OWN THE LICENSE. THAT WAY IT DOES AWAY WITH ANY POTENTIAL for a License holder to come in, show some profit and then sell the license to someone else.
There is a lot more here than we are being told.
JAS in Frankfort
Posted by: Jim Anderson Stivers | January 12, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Jim, you are doing good work here. You seem to be a very intelligent man of conscience. My guess is that you have seen corruption in the past, have risen above the personal element of that, and really do want what is best for the people.
It is the economic development aspect of all this that so angers me. I don't believe that the "budget crisis" is real. And the 15% cut to the universities is a cut to what should be our economic engine. What we will get in return for this is low-pay jobs at casinos and their satellite hotels and restaurants. Alot of that will be filled with immigrant labour.
This is 19th century economics at work.
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 12, 2008 at 11:52 AM
The other thing that so angers me is that the Democratic party of this state, and this governor, should be focusing in on getting Mitch McConnell out of DC. That man has helped sell this nation to China. That, and the help he has given to the Bush administration's ruin, is on OUR heads as Kentuckians.
But, no, they focus on getting more money for their horse and hunt club buddies.
My daddy always said that the only purpose of the Democrat party in Kentucky was to elect and governor and the only purpose of the governor was to pay back his friends.
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 12, 2008 at 11:59 AM
JAS: You have provided great info. on this blog. You said above "The only people that WIN, WIN in this issue is the CASINO OWNERS and THE THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS AND OWNERS."
You are partially right. I lifted the below from somewhere else in this blog. It appears the horse industry will be donating MILLIONS to legislators in this upcoming year ....
"[senator] Boswell's filing of the bill [SB19 &SB20] also establishes the starting point for the vast number of interests that will likely spend MILLIONS over the next year in contributions to state legislators and for public-advocacy campaigns. In addition to supporters and opponents of expanded gambling, that list also includes the interests who will line up to get a share of the gambling proceeds."
Did you catch the part: "bill also establishes the starting point for the vast number of interests that will likely spend millions over the next year in contributions to state legislators and for public-advocacy campaigns"
The legislators, that we are dumb enough to elect, will get "millions" over the next YEAR (as in one year), in contributions. Uh huh! These jokes down in Frankfort do NOT deserve to be re-elected!"
Posted by: who profits from casinos | January 12, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Excuse me, that should read "to elect a governor".
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 12, 2008 at 12:00 PM
JAS: To follow up on my post at 11:59 -
I'd like to focus on the sentence "that list also includes the interests who will line up to get a share of the gambling proceeds."
Who should "get a share of the gambling proceeds?"
The People should get the gambling proceeds.
WHO IS STANDING "IN LINE" TO REPRESENT THE SHARE THE PEOPLE GET?
The people deserve 100% of teh gambling proceeds.
Posted by: Is No ONE standing up for the people | January 12, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Elizabeth,
If you ever have an opportunity, to visit a town, with a Military Base, you will see some of the ugliest predators in business.
If Kentucky approves Casino Gambling you can expect to see much more of:
PAWN SHOPS
PAYDAY LENDERS (Our Governor is familiar with them)
Ten zillion ATM machines.
Go to Atlantic City, look outside the gamble strip and see what the environment looks like.
Casino Gaming will bring a whole new gambling culture to Kentucky. And the Socio\Economic impact will be devastating.
I can't prove that, but past history at other geographies does. It will take a few years before Kentucky is brought to their Knees and the number of people impacted by compulsive gamblers reaches over 100,000 Kentucky citizens.
You can GOOGLE this information and a lot more on the internet.
I invite others posters to present substance in this debate and help out with the effort to make this amendment have clarity and public understanding BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT.
And, vote we should. If the amendment is turned down, then maybe we will see the end of this greedy one sided issue.
This issue seems to be self serving to a group of wealthy people. Is that what OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE is about.
I don't think so.
jas in frankfort
Posted by: Jim Anderson Stivers | January 12, 2008 at 12:07 PM
I think that online casino is a good business, helping people to earn (and spend) money but I don't think that anybody could guarantee 100% safety of the software. Even Microsoft can't. The only thing they can prove is to show some certificates stating the quality of their cryptography. And if hackers will be from Russia - the soft will be destroyed.
Posted by: Casino for sale | January 12, 2008 at 12:25 PM
You got it right, Jim!
Part of the campaign to woo legislators will also be invitations to sit in boxes at Keeneland and Churchill, "advice" on shares in stallions and/or breeding seasons, invitations to the manses to meet casino lobbyists and key horsemen from this state and from other countries, trips to out-of-state casinos or resorts, some pork for their home counties despite the budget "crisis", and maybe some gentle offers they can't refuse.
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 12, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Like I said when I posted about BOPTROT last week- Two factions wanting control of Gambling in Kentucky.
This has been going on for sometime, and when you buy off the horse lobby and bring them into bed on the Casinos you get an unholy alliance.
The horse industry fought other forms of gambling because they been been wanting control of the gambling as they have had for years. Remember horse racing,and wagering on it has been around forever.
When you have a gambling interest that wants to take a cut of that it causes friction.
Out of state interests want wide open gambling that could have hurt the horse industry, but you join with them. Out of state interests, and the horse industry along with sports booking of all kinds. It is a big juicy pot of money that everyone wants a dip from.
Horse Racing
Slots
Cards
Ball Games
Nascar
You name it people will gamble on it.
The people of Kentucky will be lucky to see any real improvment in their lives, but some poeple with millions will change that first letter to a B as in Billion.
Beshear has been bought and sold as the god of gambling.
It all has been boiling down to who is going to control the funds.
It is a slippery slope as I said on my blog. The wrong people behind such a venture can create a mess that it will take Kentucky decades to clean up as it did in Vegas. The mess is as clean as it ever will be in Vegas, but still the problems that this type of matter causes are numerous.
Posted by: Lyndon Combs | January 12, 2008 at 01:03 PM
I just read the full list of donors and really urge everyone to do that.
I wish this had been available before the election. I wish the people knew all the sources of money.
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 12, 2008 at 01:07 PM
If you are angry and "Pissed Off", hit the keys and post your feelings. Email your member of the General Assembly. There is an email list at the Kentucky LRC sight. Google it!
jas
Posted by: Jim A. Stivers | January 12, 2008 at 01:29 PM
It's amazing who showed up on this list. Especially a high school counselor who was able to donate $10K on her salary.
Posted by: MOE | January 12, 2008 at 01:49 PM
I am not Angry, I am Happy. Today is a New Day with Steve Beshear a real Governor. He will get the budget in line with Ky needs. He will clean up the Republican Mess in Frankfort. I am so happy and elated in the changes.
Kelsey.
Posted by: Kelsey | January 12, 2008 at 01:50 PM
My 3 year old daughter saved her money and wanted to give the max to the Beshear list but they were fullup on donations and she did not even get to send her $4,000 in for the parties that she had saved up. So I gave $2,000 to the election funds.
Kelsey
Posted by: Kelsey | January 12, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Here is where you can find all of the legislators--save this site and email them your anger. Tell them NO CASINOS
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/Legislators.htm
Posted by: I Love Ky! | January 12, 2008 at 01:56 PM
Elizabeth this is another matter I tried to get out when I heard about. In the last months before the election I knew of Yung, and others. This election is the reason I turned to blogging. I wish I had set it up before the election. I was stopped at papers, and I have actually been told by one public official that Perry County has always been corrupt, and no one is going to do anything- because they like it that way. I was told on a state level that this stuff happens all the time. It's just politics in Kentucky. I still have not heard any response from this paper. If they dig deeper here in Perry they will find a lot more.
Posted by: Lyndon Combs | January 12, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Email your State Senator and tell them you demand Casinos in Ky for our Children and Seniors Health Care and Education. Dont wait run to your computer. Call your Mayor and County Judge and tell them you will vote against them if they dont support the Governors Casino Bill.
Kelsey
Posted by: Kelsey | January 12, 2008 at 04:59 PM
We can agree to disagree about certain public figures, including our past and present governors, and which is the better (or worse) political party. But let's all agree (except Kelsey) on one thing:
CASINO GAMBLING IS THE WRONG DIRECTION FOR KENTUCKY!!
Posted by: WakeUpKY! | January 12, 2008 at 07:06 PM
Another thing to think about on this subject. We are talking about an amendment to the state constitution. If this is allowed it sets the ground work for other amendments. Do we follow in the ways of Nevada, and legalize prostitution?? Do we ask to amend other parts of the contitution?? Maybe amend it to where certain people can not use a public forum, or blog to debate these issues?? Can't happen?? A bill was mentioned on another blog that has been as I remeber introduced to stop blogging??? When you deal with amendments to the Constitution on any level you are on slippery slope. Yes it is just the state constitution, but the fore fathers allowed for states to govern themselves as they wished in many aspects. Think about it what would be next. Maybe Kelsey as media censor???
Posted by: Lyndon Combs | January 12, 2008 at 07:35 PM
WakeupKy-- I really love what you said-
"We can agree to disagree about certain public figures, including our past and present governors, and which is the better (or worse) political party. But let's all agree (except Kelsey) on one thing:
CASINO GAMBLING IS THE WRONG DIRECTION FOR KENTUCKY!!"
You are so right, and we all, Democrats and Republicans alike, need to work together on this one.
Posted by: Debbie | January 12, 2008 at 08:39 PM
If you want Less Taxes, Not More Taxes,
CALL AND VOTE FOR CASINO BILL PASSAGE
Kelsey.
Posted by: Kelsey | January 12, 2008 at 09:11 PM
The pig returns to the trought. But this time, he claims the democrats wouldn't take his money. What? That's never stopped any of them in the past. BOPTROP? Prison time during the Carroll governorship? Collins with a jump suit? Wally world broke? Book deals? Skippy and pardons for convicts? Your public school education is showing again as you have forgotten how your people have placed us in last place! Thankfully Senator Williams will save this state from more fat cat, cash under the table, what color is my jumpsuit frankfort democrats!
Posted by: dim bulb | January 12, 2008 at 09:29 PM
Is that the Senator Williams who's currently pitching a temper tantrum because his last minute 10.5 million post-election pork project got eliminated recently?
LOLOL...Why, I believe it is! What a marvelous choice to save the state! It's Super Dave to the rescue.
Posted by: Dim bulb indeed | January 12, 2008 at 09:43 PM
Kudos to the HL for disclosing this eye opening list of big dogs. But after reviewing, I'm changing my career path, because it looks like nurses and teachers can afford 10K donations, and are not the underpaid workers we hear about!! Ackerson donates to the dems? This list will have shelf life.
Posted by: KUDOs | January 12, 2008 at 09:44 PM
I was ambivalent about casinos until I saw the percentage that will go back into the horse industry...are you kidding me? No chance, folks. I have read all these comments, and I always find Jim Anderson Stivers and Elizabeth to be very persuasive. I notice that "Kelsey" is the only individual supporting casinos. Ummm...not the best ambassador. "kELsey no know how to write nothing about anything noway."
No worries everybody...no chance this bill gets out of committee. JAS...I encourage you to get a group together and make a lil trip to FFort. Road trip everybody!! No casino money for rich horse owners!!!
Posted by: Robert | January 13, 2008 at 01:40 PM
For the one of you in favor of casinos (ie the crazy Kelsey), please meet my friend Senate President David Williams. Remember that whole David and Goliath story...yeah...David kicked his a#$!! Senator Williams...get that sling shot ready...the Goliath casino industry is going down, baby!! And all those horsey ding dongs who bought off their casino candidate...they'll get a lil casino experience of their own: they'll get to watch their money flushed down the toilet!!
Posted by: Mike | January 13, 2008 at 01:46 PM
This probably sounds like a dumb question, but I am new to all of this political stuff. Robert suggested a road to to Frankfort, is that something we could all plan to do? Are the legislator meetings open to the public? I'm sure alot of us would be happy to do whatever we need to do to help keep casinos out of Ky.
Posted by: new to politics | January 13, 2008 at 01:54 PM
SOMEONE IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH. LOOK AT THIS CHART.
HOW IN THE WORLD CAN KENTUCKY EXPECT TO GENERATE $500 MILLION DOLLARS WHEN THE TOP CASINO GAMBLING STATE IN THE USA ONLY TAKES IN $556 MILLION?
IT DOES NOT ADD UP WHEN YOU SEE THE $500 M THAT LAS VEGAS AND NEVADA TAKE IN.
Outside of Nevada, Gambling Taxes are a Small Share of State Revenues. The next largest gambling presence is in New Jersey, but there the proportion of state revenues provided by gambling is only about 2.5 percent of total tax revenues because the state is so large. The next largest gambling contributions to state revenues, in absolute numbers, are in Louisiana and Mississippi. Because they are small states, gambling revenues can make a larger proportion, about 8 percent of both states' budgets.
Estimated State & Local Government Revenue From Casinos
$ Millions
Nevada $556
New Jersey $296
Illinois $286
Louisiana $204
Mississippi $609
Missouri $130
Colorado $51
Iowa $46
South Dakota $4
Source: Harrah's
Posted by: Jim Anderson Stivers | January 14, 2008 at 11:23 AM
I think that online casino is a good business, helping people to earn (and spend) money but I don't think that anybody could guarantee 100% safety of the software. Even Microsoft can't. The only thing they can prove is to show some certificates stating the quality of their cryptography. And if hackers will be from Russia - the soft will be destroyed.
Posted by: Casino for sale | January 14, 2008 at 11:51 AM