There is a chance that West Virginia racetracks may be permitted to offer casino table games if racetrack operators are successful at outdebating their opponents who are fighting against doing so. A recent panel discussion took place at Marshall University's Graduate College, during which the panelists agreed that the outcome of the legislation will likely be decided on who gets to vote on it.

A sixty-day legislative session begins next Wednesday, at which time, West Virginia racetrack supporters will begin pushing their agenda with great gusto. What they are fighting for at this time is the allowance and exclusivity of local voting on the casino table games issue - specifically in Hancock, Jefferson, Ohio and Kanawha Counties, which is where all of West Virginia's racetracks can be found.

Resistors to the legislation, like Reverend Dennis Sparks, who happens to be West Virginia's main force behind its lottery revenues, object that all voting on the issue should be done on a statewide basis. Obviously, there is more of a chance the legislation will get voted down if the whole state is permitted to have a say. Racetrack operators, on the other hand, believe it is only fair to have those voters who reside in the counties where racetracks are legal to begin with to approve or disapprove the allowance of casino table games.

The President of MTR Gaming Group, Ted Arneault, pointed out that West Virginia's constitution makes it practically impossible for a statewide vote to be carried out. Whether this will hold up or not will play out in the next sixty days - the outcome of which will likely determine the fate of casino table gaming at West Virginia racetracks.