The Senate concurred in the House amendments Wednesday, completing action on Senate Bill 9, which would continue the Racetrack Modernization Fund.
This legislation allows the racetracks to request funds from the state Lottery Commission to buy new video lottery machines, among other items. The roughly $10 million, is cash that originally came from gambling revenues.
The yearly appropriation, which has been in place for close to a decade, helps Mardi Gras Casino in Nitro, Mountaineer Racetrack in Chester, Wheeling Island Casino in Wheeling and Hollywood Casino in Charles Town.
Supporters of this legislation contended that with the casinos already paying a very high tax rate, they need this money to remain competitive with casinos in surrounding states.
Opponents of the bill questioned why the state continues to subsidize the casinos given that they are owned by out of state companies.
The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk to await his signature.
The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, March 25, at 11 a.m.
All meetings are available for streaming on our Legislature Live page.
Pensions will meet at 2:30 p.m. in 451M
Finance will meet at 3 p.m. in 451M
Judiciary will meet at 3 p.m. in 208W.
