With gambling now an entrenched part of the West Virginia landscape, we find ourselves in an uncomfortable predicament.
As a special September legislative session nears, some lawmakers want to give counties an opportunity to vote on whether to permit table games at their local racetracks.
For his part, Gov. Joe Manchin has said any legislation that would permit referenda on blackjack, roulette and other games of chance at the state's four tracks also must provide greater control over the state's limited video gambling mini-casinos.
Here is the history: At the urging of Gov. Bob Wise, the Legislature voted in 2001 to legalize and regulate unlawful video gambling. From the proceeds of those enterprises, the state funded the PROMISE scholarship program for qualified high school graduates.
Even with that strong measure of altruism, the cure has been worse than the disease. As The State Journal reported this past spring, creative operators have found ways to open mini-casinos under the guise of being "fraternal organizations." In addition, casinos have popped up near schools and churches, offering an unwelcome dash of Las Vegas-style spice to the West Virginia heartland. Limited video gambling exploits low-income gamblers and degrades local neighborhoods, especially in border counties.
Meanwhile, racetracks in Hancock, Ohio, Kanawha and Jefferson counties have invested heavily in their operations, which tend to be destinations for out-of-state patrons. These tightly controlled facilities employ thousands of West Virginians and provide a healthy contribution to the state's treasury.
But new competition from Pennsylvania, which seeks to cash in on the gambling bonanza, will ensure a downturn in revenue at the state's two Northern Panhandle racetracks. Managers at those tracks say they must offer table games to preserve their business base and employment levels.
With gambling now an entrenched part of the West Virginia landscape, we find ourselves in an uncomfortable predicament -- dependent on the revenue yet uncomfortable with limited video gambling's proximity to our communities.
Recognizing those realities, we must find a way to protect both the integrity of our communities and the soundness of the state budget. We should give counties with racetracks the opportunity to determine the fate of table games. At the same time, the state should begin the systematic phase-out of limited video gambling. We must find a way to put this conniving genie back in his bottle.
Destination gambling venues are a better option for West Virginia than convenient neighborhood gambling that tends to prey on the poor.