West Memphis calls Nov. 8 gambling election

Friday, Sept. 2, 2005 | 9:47 a.m.

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. -- The West Memphis City Council has approved a Nov. 8 election for city residents to decide whether to approve expanded gambling at Southland Greyhound Park.

On the ballot will be an ordinance that would allow "electronic games of skill" at the track.

"I don't think there is anything fairer than allowing the citizens to vote on it and that's all this did," Mayor Bill Johnson said. "This doesn't mean the council endorsed it nor opposed it. They just allowed the people to vote on it."

In its regular session, the Legislature authorized Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs and Southland to expand gambling if local ordinances passed, approving the electronic games of skill. The tracks have live racing, simulcast races and "Instant Racing" machines, which allow wagers on historic races.

The games of skill are defined as those that are not controlled by chance alone.

The Hot Springs city Board of Directors is to meet Tuesday to consider an Oaklawn request for a Nov. 8 election.

A group formed to back the ordinance in West Memphis said passage would create 150 construction jobs and 200 new full-time jobs at Southland.