Legislation that expands electronic wagering advances

Tuesday, March 15, 2005 | 9:25 a.m.

LITTLE ROCK -- The House Rules Committee endorsed legislation Monday to expand electronic gambling at the Oaklawn Park thoroughbred race track in Hot Springs and Southland Greyhound Park at West Memphis, and sent the measure to the House for final legislative action.

With a voice vote, the panel approved the bill authorizing local elections in the two Arkansas cities with pari-mutuel wagering to permit more electronic games of skill at the tracks, over the objections of opponents who warned that the social damage from games that they labeled the "crack cocaine" of gambling would outweigh any economic benefit.

Supporters said the measure, which streaked through the Senate last week, is critical to the Arkansas tracks' ability to compete with gambling operations in surrounding states.

"We've got a lot of jobs depending upon this," Oaklawn general manager Eric Jackson said after the committee vote. "We're very happy and relieved, and we take one more step."

Supporters say the measure would boost jobs and tourism, result in up to $30 million in revenue to the state and local government and enable the tracks to better compete with competitors.

They have disputed claims that the bill would open the door to video poker, video slots and other casino-type games in Arkansas, where voters have defeated ballot proposals to authorize casinos.