FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Gov. Ernie Fletcher's opposition to legalized casino gambling in Kentucky has been no secret - his re-election campaign has even printed bumper stickers underlining in red his resistance to the idea.

Fletcher, however, has signed a proclamation designating this week as "Responsible Gaming Education Week" - an initiative started by casinos with operations in New Jersey, Las Vegas and neighboring Indiana.

"Responsible gaming is an activity enjoyed by a majority of the citizens of the commonwealth who participate as a form of voluntary, personal entertainment; but those who cannot gamble in a safe and responsible manner need to be aware that help is available," Fletcher said in the signed proclamation dated Monday.

A first-term Republican, Fletcher has made the question of whether Kentucky should legalize casino gambling a central part of his re-election efforts. Democrat Steve Beshear, a former lieutenant governor opposing Fletcher in the Nov. 6 election, supports legalizing casino gambling at horse race tracks and up to four other locations throughout the state.

Fletcher's proclamation follows a national movement by the American Gaming Association, which is in its 10th year of promoting the responsible gaming campaign. The industry association lists among its board of directors casino executives such as Gary Loveman, president and CEO of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., J. Terrence Lanni, chairman & CEO of MGM Mirage, and Stephen A. Wynn, chairman & CEO of Wynn Resorts, Ltd.

Locally, a group that includes local race tracks and gambling interests is planning a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday. Other members of the coalition include the Kentucky Lottery Corp., Churchill Downs, Inc., and Caesars Indiana.

Mike Stone, executive director of the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling, said the group is planning to release a report on youth gambling in the state. Stone said the council does not advocate for or against an expansion of gambling in Kentucky.

Nevertheless, based on experience in other states, the likelihood of a rise in people with possible gambling addictions coincides with an expansion in gambling, Stone said.

"Our focus is to help people understand that there is responsible gambling and then there are places for them to get help," Stone said.

Having a week every year to promote responsible gambling is a good thing, Beshear said.

"The inconsistency that I see is he apparently supports pari-mutuel wagering at race tracks, the lottery and charitable gambling," Beshear said in a telephone interview. "Somehow he draws the line at limited casino gambling."

Brian Lehman, an American Gaming Association spokesman, said governors in many other states across the country have signed similar proclamations. Iowa and Missouri were among the other states with similar proclamations marking the week.

More than 100 commercial casinos across the country were participating, Lehman said. Some of the efforts included educating casino employees about problems associated with casino gambling, and signs of how to spot someone who may have an addiction, Lehman said.

"It's an important issue for the industry," Lehman said.

Fletcher had long said he personally opposed casino gambling but would not stand in the way of a proposed constitutional amendment to set casinos in motion in Kentucky. But after winning the Republican primary in May, he said he would fight efforts to put the issue on the ballot, adding that casino gambling would "not happen on my watch."

Fletcher emerged from the spring primary making his feelings against casinos the central topic in the campaign and has referred to Beshear as "Easy Money Steve." The governor, an ordained Baptist minister, has said he believes that casinos would spur a number of social problems and lead to increased crime.

Beshear, meanwhile, has estimated state government could gain about $500 million or more per year in extra revenue. He has downplayed as scare tactics Fletcher's worries about the possible consequences of casinos in Kentucky.

Fletcher has signed similar proclamations in each of his four years as governor.

Jason Keller, Fletcher's campaign spokesman, said Fletcher opposes casino gambling but believes that Kentuckians need to be aware that it can lead to personal problems.

Patrick Neely, the executive director of the pro-expanded gambling Kentucky Equine Education Project, said Fletcher's signing the proclamation was reasonable.

"We all agree, of course, that we want to make sure that people don't become problem gamblers," Neely said. "I think there's 100-percent agreement."

Keller said there are distinct differences between betting on the lottery or at the race track and gambling at casinos.

"It's a very different atmosphere and the prevalence of problem gambling greatly increases when casinos are put into the mix," Keller said.

Return to Archives