Jefferson To Vote Dec. 5 on Table Games

Charles Town Races & Slots is getting a second shot at getting casino table games approved for its track, The Associated Press and others report.

AP set the stage for Thursday's Jefferson County Commission meeting, at which racetrack officials successfully requested a Dec. 5 referendum on the question.

"A vote on whether to install poker tables, roulette wheels and other games alongside 5,000 slot machines at the Eastern Panhandle facility failed two years ago, but officials with the Pennsylvania-based parent company, Penn National Gaming Inc., believe the odds are now in their favor," the article said.

The Journal covered the meeting, noting that "in early July, residents and local business leaders announced that they were forming a group known as Vote Yes Jefferson County. The alliance, which is being led by Eric Lewis, said the ailing economy and new legislation that gives more revenues to local communities make it all the more important to approve the games this time around."

The Martinsburg newspaper also reports separately on community sentiment toward the proposal. "Rev. John Bethard, of Charles Town Presbyterian Church, spoke out against the games," that article said. "He still has concerns about the temptation they could pose for those struggling with gambling problems, but in light of region's ongoing economic downturn, he said the games may be beneficial."

MetroNews also has an item on the upcoming vote. AP also reported earlier on the push to re-visit the table games issue in Jefferson County.