In a transfer to guard Kentucky historic horse racing venues that profit from racing, breeding and promoting, a bipartisan group of state legislators who’re pro-horse racing will help laws banning so-called “grey video games.”
State senators Amanda Mays Bledsoe (Republican, Lexington), Damon Thayer (Republican, Georgetown, majority ground chief) and Reggie Thomas (Democrat, Lexington, minority group chairman) attended a gathering on the Keeneland gross sales pavilion in Lexington on February 21. ) and Consultant Matt Koch (Republican, Paris) stated banning these video games is a high precedence within the upcoming legislative session.
Video games are already changing into a standard sight in lots of Kentucky institutions, and Koch stated there might quickly be as many as 40,000 video games within the state if the issue is not fastened. Such proliferation might negatively affect HHR video games in Kentucky.
“I hate these grey machines,” Senator Thayer stated. “These aren’t video games of ability, they’re unlawful on line casino video games. The homeowners have a enterprise mannequin the place they get to the purpose the place there is a grey space within the legislation, they pay a lawyer and say, ‘Yeah, they’re actually authorized. Then they go to the legislature to legalize them. That is their enterprise mannequin. It is a predatory enterprise mannequin.”
Legislators stated Consultant Killian Timoney (Republican, Nicholasville) will introduce or advance a invoice on Feb. He would ban them. Deputies met on Tuesday night Keeneland He described the video games as unlawful slot machines marketed as video games of ability in an try and fill a authorized loophole.
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Lawmakers attended a particular assembly of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Membership with help from the Keeneland, Kentucky Thoroughbred British Affiliation and the Kentucky Equine Schooling Venture.
After keynote speeches by Keeneland president Shannon Arvin, Consultant Timoney outlined the necessity for laws. Subsequent, KEEP government director Will Glasscock moderated the 4 MPs.
Consultant Koch, who runs Shawhan Place and was named KTFMC farm supervisor of the yr in 2022, stated the makers of the video games have doubled in quantity after the legislation banning grey machines was not handed final yr. He stated it could be vital for pro-race MPs and the Thoroughbred British {industry} to share the information that HHR has to supply for racing, breeding and promoting.
“Broadcast the optimistic message. What we’ve got to say to Frankfort is to not do any hurt,” Koch stated. “We have positively carried out nice issues. We’re moving into the correct path. We won’t take that away from us. So we’ve got to get on the market and combat for it.”
Koch, {industry} members Join KEEP day on February 23 in Frankfort, Ky.Have interaction with legislators and keep updated on points affecting the {industry}.
“We won’t afford to shut the entrance door of the farm and simply sit there feeding the mares and foaling the mares,” stated Koch. “If we do not take note of what is going on on in Frankfort, if we do not take note of what is going on on on the federal stage, we’re not going to do it in any respect. Do not simply listen, we have to be energetic, and our voices have to be heard.”
Lawmakers stated they endorsed the HHR due to guidelines comparable to not permitting kids into the amenities, making certain security inside the facility, and regulators making certain that video games run equally and as prescribed by legislation. They stated that grey video games don’t present these protections. You s. Thomas and Mays Bledsoe famous that unregulated grey video games are accessible to kids and youngsters. Thomas famous that within the absence of safety, grey video games encourage idleness and crime.
In different industry-leading legislative information, Thayer plans to assist draft a brand new model of a invoice to convey sports activities betting to the Kentucky circuits, however acknowledged it can face an uphill climb throughout this session. In odd-numbered years, payments involving taxation (as within the sports activities betting invoice) require a bigger majority to cross. On the Senate facet, this could require 23 votes as a substitute of 20 in an even-numbered yr.
There may be additionally much less time to assemble help. In even-numbered years, classes can’t exceed 60 legislative days and 15 April. In odd-numbered years, classes can’t exceed 30 legislative days and 30 March.
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