Cities encouraged to hold special elections on gambling

Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005 | 9:19 a.m.

The operators of the Southland Greyhound Park in West Memphis, Ark., and Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., have asked their city governments to call special elections for Nov. 8 to determine whether the race tracks can offer "electronic games of skill" in addition to pari-mutuel betting.

The West Memphis City Council is scheduled to take up the matter at its meeting Thursday, and the Hot Springs city Board of Directors will consider an ordinance at its Sept. 6 meeting.

Southland general manager Barry Baldwin said an economic study shows a tremendous impact if the dog track offered expanded gambling.

He said the first full year of operation would net additional tax revenue of $8.6 million for the state, $700,000 for West Memphis and $240,000 for Crittenden County. Baldwin said the tax revenue was based on first-year revenues of $48 million.

Also, 14 percent of the revenue would go to enhance greyhound purses at the park and 1 percent would go to the greyhound breeders fund.

The race tracks made their requests under a law passed by legislators last spring. In Act 1151, which became law without the signature of Gov. Mike Huckabee, Southland and the Oaklawn Park thoroughbred horse racing track can ask their communities for special elections to expand gambling.