Now that the Governor has signed House Bill 1609 legalizing historical horse race/slot machines at Colonal Downs and 10 other locations around Virginia, the real work of writing the rules and regulations overseeing their usage has begun. Recently, Governor Northam made a number of very important recomendations to the Virginia Racing Commission concerning those regulations. These include limiting the total amount of machines statewide to 3000, and also putting a cap on the number of machines allowed in each locality according to population. He also stipulated that if Colonial wants more than 35% of the maximum allowed machines in a particular locality, they will need the approval of local goverment. For example Richmond and Henrico both qualify for 700 machines. That means Colonial can install up to 245 slot machines without local approval in either location. If they want more than 245 machines (the other 65%) they will then need to obtain approval of City Council or the Henrico Board of Supervisors respectively.
    In an interview on ESPN Radio on Saturday July 24th, Debbie Easter, President of the Virginia Equine Association described the Governor's plan as "not well thought out". She stated she would like to see the Governor's recomendations changed to allow an unlimited amout of gaming machines and less supervision. This is not surprising considering the VEA is an umbrella group that represents four other horsemen's special interest groups that will all share in the millions of $$$ in profits from the installation of each and every new slot machine. 
     Governor Northam got it right. His recomended restrictions are an acknowledgment that Virginians who live in the locations where these slots are proposed to be placed, were offered no opportunity to be part of the decision making process at any point along the way. Our citizenry was basically kept in the dark for months, until the opening day of the 2018 General Assembly session when details of this bill became public. What is most disturbing is that our own Virginia Racing Commission was fully aware of this initiative since June of 2017, and even helped assist with the passage of this bill, but never once made any attempt to inform the public of their actions. Not one time in 6 months.
     When Virginians went to the polls and voted in referendums legalizing simulcast horse race wagering in Richmond, Henrico and 8 other locations around Virginia as far back as 1992, those votes were never intended to be used to allow for the installation of slot machines 26 years later. The Governor has taken a step in the right direction by only allowing Colonial Downs to install no more than 35% of the machines allowed in each location unless they receive local approval. But that's still not good enough for the Virginians that live in these communities. They deserve 100% control.
     The solution to this is simple. In the 10 locations that have already passed referendums, we should require local approval to install even a single machine. Control of whether or not slot machines will be allowed in a specific locality should be the decision of the Virginians who live there, and not left up to the out of state owners of Colonial Downs. 
     Governor Northam took a big step in the right direction when he recommended to allow no more than 35% of the allotted number of slot machines to be installed without local approval. Now it's up to the VRC to follow the Governor's lead and restore that remaining 35% control back to these 10 localities so they will once again have 100% control of what goes on in their own neighborhoods. As it should be.

Tad Berman

Richmond
    

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