Racetracks Decide Date

Now that the residents of four West Virginia counties have the right to vote on table games or not, it is up to the racetracks as to when to set those voting dates. Governor Joe Manchin signed the table gaming bill into law, and now the tracks must decide when the time would be right to vote on it.

If the residents of those counties vote yes, then the racetracks will be able to offer table games such as blackjack and poker in addition to their slot machines. The bill will also allow the state to collect money from those games to the tune of a $2.5 million annual license fee from each track that gains approval, as well as a 35% tax on the proceeds after winnings are paid out.

The Charles Town Races and Slots say that the $2.5 million would go to in-home senior care, and that another part of the taxes will go to Jefferson County schools. They say that not only is it good for the state to have the approval of the games, but it is also good for the horse racing industry. They say that it will crease more jobs, more investment opportunities, more promise for the state.

They say that they will be announcing when the vote will be, and that they hope that their residents will see the benefit in making table games legal at the track.



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