The War for Gambling Dollars: The Western Front

With some of West Virginia's racetracks reporting declines in revenues blamed on competition from Pennsylvania, folks are already attuned to a drive by some in nearby Maryland to legalize slot machines.

But Tuesday's election of Democrat Steve Beshear as governor of Kentucky exposes the Mountain State's flank to a push for legalized gambling there as well, as the Charleston Daily Mail reports.

"Beshear wants to expand casino-style gambling at up to four new freestanding locations along the state's borders with Illinois, West Virginia and Indiana," as "all three states offer such gambling on or near their borders," the article said.

Beshear wants Kentucky lawmakers to put the issue on the statewide ballot in November 2008. "Under Beshear's plan, gambling also would be added to the state's racetracks if voters approved the referendum," the Daily Mail reports.

West Virginia's Northern Panhandle tracks say they're already reaping rewards from voter-approved casino table games, which debuted last month with the opening of poker rooms at those two tracks.

The Eastern Panhandle's Charles Town track, however, saw Jefferson County reject the games there. And while Kanawha County ok'd table games for Nitro's Tri-State track, their value may depend on how far Kentucky goes.

"John Cavacini, president of the West Virginia Racing Association, said it still would be three years before Tri-State faced competition from Kentucky if that state's voters go along with the plan," the Daily Mail reported. "And it's still not clear to what extent Beshear wants to expand gambling -- just to video slots, or to table games as well."