January 12, 2009 — As it continues its effort to seize 141 domain names owned by Internet gambling companies worldwide, the U.S. state of Kentucky is also making news in recent weeks for a new effort to bring video slot machines to its racing tracks, reports the Kentucky Courier-Journal.
Although introduced by House Speaker Greg Stumbo, the new slots bill is widely seen as part of a previous initiative launched by governor Steve Beshear — currently public enemy #1 for the iGaming industry for his controversial anti-online gambling stance.
Whether or not the new bill passes (and there is already staunch opposition within the state lined up against it), the bill highlights the contradictions in the pro-horse racing governor's actions. On one hand, the governor works to outlaw one form of gambling (via the Internet), while trying to increase the amount of state-sanctioned gambling on the other.