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Gambling likely to grow, industry, opponents agree

Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004 | 9:11 a.m.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Both advocates and proponents agree that the gambling industry is likely to grow in West Virginia despite efforts to stop it.

Ted Arneault, president and chief executive officer of Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort in Chester, and the Rev. Monty Brown, the minister of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Charleston, tackled the issue at a forum Tuesday night at the University of Charleston.

Arneault said gambling has grown from a small business to become an integral part of the state's tourism industry. It also has increased jobs and saved the state's horse racing industry, he said.

"I think we've been a successful test and I would like to be able to expand," Arneault said.

Both Arneault and Brown agreed much good has been done with lottery funds in the state, with senior citizen programs, public education and scholarships all funded from it.

"The greatest addict of the gambling industry is state government," Brown said.

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