West Virginia Table Games

[Artsemis]

Currently they are illegal. All the casino's and "race tracks" just have video machines and slots, and of course tracks. I heard there was a potential for a law to pass soon allowing table games to be brought into the casinos.

Anyone heard anything of this or have any unbiased thoughts on if you think it will really happen?

[Hellmouth]

I read that most the issue has been tabled until elections are over this year. Should come up again by late 2006 and it looks like barring a major shift that it will pass.

Greg

[Jeffage]

That would be sweetness.

Jeff

[Hellmouth]

[ QUOTE ]
That would be sweetness.

Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]

Currently I live 3 hours away from AC
Currently I live 50 minutes away from Charlestown.

I have my fingers crossed.
Greg

[CarlosChadha]

[ QUOTE ]
That would be sweetness.

Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]

That is what I thought at first...but then I realized that games with Philly buisness men in AC are probably going to to always be a lot bigger and better than those wth farmers in West Virgina.

-Carlos

[Reqtech]

I live in Charles Town. Supposedly it was a slam dunk last year, but it didn't happen and it's been postponed until this Fall. The issue seems to be mostly about state vs. local control. Knowing Charleston, they'll eff it up and we'll never have table games.

[Jeffage]

I would still go to AC just as much. But, a local alternative that spreads at least mid limit (20-40 to 30-60) hold 'em would be a good option for an occasional lazy Sunday.

Also, games could be bigger than you think if there are no restrictions. A large portion of AC players come from Baltimore, Washington and Virginia.

Jeff

[Keith0707]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
That would be sweetness.

Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]

That is what I thought at first...but then I realized that games with Philly buisness men in AC are probably going to to always be a lot bigger and better than those wth farmers in West Virgina.

-Carlos

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll try to be nice here since I am close to Charles Town. I'm sure that there are farmers around here somewhere but I don't know of any. That would be the equivalent of me saying that you must be a politician since you seem to think so narrow mindedly.

[Artsemis]

Sorry, but AC? Where is that?

Anyways, I'm going to school in Charleston and hope this happens. We'll see... thanks for the info.

[StevieG]

Article from today's W Va State Journal:

Tracks Double-Down on Table Games (http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=8466)

The tracks are really laying it on thick.

Living in Baltimore I would love to see this go through, but keep in mind that if this is the same bill as last year, the local population in the county has to vote on it. That would not take place until November (if the legislature passes the bill before then).

It is possible that the tracks could pay for a special referendum (the bill provides for that) but it is more likely they would ride it along in November.

[Tcchap]

Article in the Wheeling Intelligencer tonight - here are the highlights:

- House Bill 4314 would authorize local option elections to allow table gambling at the state's four existing racetracks.

- The bill was introduced wed. in the House of Delegates.

-If passed as written, racetrack officials could petition their respective county commisions to place a referendum before the county residents.

-The referendum would ask voters if they wish to allow table gambling at the racetrack there.

-The impetus for table games now lies in the fact that Pennsylvania is ready to go online with 38,000 machines which will take a huge bite out of the two northern panhandle tracks.

So the bill has to make it through the WV House and Senate. Then, county residents must vote on the issue.

My fear is that the average citizen doesn't understand gambling enough to know that table games are much more +EV than tables. In fact, most people think that table games are more dangerous than machines. The racetracks need to educate the public, but I doubt they will do that because they don't want people to quit playing the machines.

[StevieG]

[ QUOTE ]
The racetracks need to educate the public, but I doubt they will do that because they don't want people to quit playing the machines.

[/ QUOTE ]

From the poll mentioned in the article, most people seem in favor. Of course, the poll (in fact the whole article) seems to have come straight from the track lobbying groups.

Still, I think most in WV understand they have benefited from PA and MD not offering gambling, and that once PA has slots, they may have to offer more if they want the revenue to keep coming in.

[Jeffage]

Can you imagine how good mid and high limit games would be at these tracks? Would be sooooo sweet if this happens.

These articles are making me think we have a shot.

Jeff

[Georgia Avenue]

Jeff,

Sadly I bet you'd see a lot of 1/2 nl and 2/4. High would probably be 20-40 if you were lucky. Plus I bet they rape the hell outta the rake. I'd still play, but...it might turn me into a nit!
--GA

[Jeffage]

You'd be surprised - it seems like half the people I play 40-80 and 80-160 w/ in AC come from the DC/Baltimore VA area so there is definitely enough money closeby that it could support high limit games. That is, IF they want to spread them. Of course, we're talking hypotheticals here but I just want a local gaming option. I'm sure I'd still go to AC just as much, but I'm a degenerate lol.

Jeff

[StevieG]

Being completely unfamiliar with W Va politics, I cannot gauge what this means for overall support of the table gaming legislation. However, some opinions are weighing in on approving the table games.

Charleston, WV Daily Mail Op-ed (http://www.dailymail.com/news/Opinion/200601312/) which states "The people who want to play these games are adults, and should be allowed to make such choices for themselves."

Wheeling WV city council (http://www.news-register.net/news/articles.asp?articleID=1896) debates a resolution Tuesday February 7 to declare its support for the legislation

[StevieG]

More follow-up.

The Wheeling City Council did express its support for legislation authorizing votes on table gaming. (http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=8613)

The Charleston Daily Mail points out (http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2006021026/) that the language currently in the bill does not allow for voters to later revoke the table game licensing. This Centre Daily article (http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/politics/13815187.htm) paraphrases State House Speaker Bob Kiss as stating the legislation is likely to move forward this week or not at all. It points out another issue is that some lawmakers want the matter to be put to a state vote rather than just the counties that currently offer slots at racetracks.

[StevieG]

Huntington Herald-Dispatch reports bill dead for this session (http://www.herald-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060218/NEWS01/602180319/1001/NEWS). It may be taken up later this year .