Table Games Bill Extends Its Streak

The racetrack table games bill (HB2718) cleared its first major Senate hurdle today with the endorsement of the Judiciary Committee there. The Associated Press has the latest.

Before sending the bill to Senate Finance, the committee tinkered with the percentages for distributing the potential revenue from table games proceeds.

Senate Judiciary increased the revenues for county and local governments, by reducing the shares for race prize purses. The committee also increased revenues for track worker pensions.

AP also highlights this latest version's details. Bill foes again failed to weaken, poison or derail the bill, but will have several more chances. The House must approve today's and any other changes made by senators to the bill.

Update: Both The Charleston Gazette and MetroNews (with audio) also covered Thursday's hearing, while Talkline's Hoppy Kercheval focused on the failed bid to involve video poker machines in the discussion.