Kentucky Senator Says No To Electronic Devices
Added: Dec. 29, 2014
In what could arguably be called a strange turn of events, a Senator in the state of Kentucky has made headline news with his latest ploy. Here’s what this is all about: as you know, the status of online gambling in the United States is literally all over the map. Some states like New Jersey have already proved the concept of legalized and well regulated online casinos can and do work. In fact, even now there are other states such as California, Pennsylvania and more actively debating legalizing online gambling. In other words, the trend was starting to look positive for fans of online casinos.
Thus, the latest happenings down in the state of Kentucky caught many by surprise. Hastily put together and thrown into what Kentucky refers to as Emergency Legislation, this bill would slam the brakes on online gambling expansion in Kentucky. There are a couple of interesting things to note about this pending legislation.
First, consider that BR229 as submitted by Senator Mike Wilson is specifically designed to amend Kentucky state law so that any form of online gambling is prohibited. The legalese wording defines a gambling device as any electronic device used to facilitate Internet gambling.
Second, take note that Senator Wilson very craftily threw this last minute bill on the tail end of Emergency Legislation. Unfortunately for the residents of Kentucky, the way it works in Kentucky is that Emergency Legislation is enacted immediately. Emergency Legislation completely skips the 90 day period of implementation that is actually written into the Kentucky Constitution. In other words, if BR229 actually passes (which is automatic if the Emergency Legislation is approved) then it’s effectively game over for any hopeful online casino operators out there.
Third, you can’t help but wonder if the Honorable Senator Wilson let it slip his mind that the state of Kentucky actually does pretty well with its online horse race. Not only that, but Kentucky has made it clear that the state legislators are actively investigating the expansion of online latter sales. In fact, some are even projecting an online lottery sales system to be up and running by Fall of 2015.
Now that you have the inside scoop on this so called Emergency Legislation and Senator Wilson's new bill you have to wonder what’s really going on here. Does the Senator have some other plan in mind? Is this mere posturing for some undisclosed reason? It’s too soon to answer this question of course, but you have to wonder what is not being told.