Opponents of expanded gambling in Kentucky are focusing on the social costs of casinos.
Testimony from anti-gaming groups in Frankfort Wednesday connected expanded gambling with increases in crime and gambling addiction.
Former Representative Stan Cave is now with the anti-gaming Family Foundation. He says in addition to the vices associated with gambling, he’s concerned with a lack of transparency governing gambling interests.
“The gambling bill enables concealment, and licenses secrecy," he said. "For example, section four expands the exceptions to the open records law, to whatever the new gambling commission considers, quote, ‘confidential, proprietary information of the commission.’”
Legislation has been filed to amend the state constitution to allow expanded gambling and to put the issue before voters on the November ballot.
The legislation in the House includes funds for treating gambling addiction.
Neither chamber has taken up the issue for a vote on their respective floors.
