Voters in Hot Springs and West Memphis approve expansion of race tracks.

Oaklawn Park Gambling

The gambling expansion for Oaklawn Park has been approved by voters in Hot Springs by a narrow difference. The measure passed by 89 votes and 9,401 people participated in the election in all. Voters in West Memphis also approved the gambling expansion of Southland Greyhound Park.

Oaklawn Park will now be allowed to offer electronic games of skill, that is, machines that require some skill from the part of the player and are not based only in chance. The Arkansas Racing Commission has defined such machines like those similar to video poker. However, the definition is still not clear, and like the racing division manager for the commission Shelby McCook said, the commission is still working with a consultant and will provide a definition of the issue at the beginning of next year. Both Oaklawn Park and Southland Greyhound Park already offer Instant Racing, which is a kind of electronic game where wagerers can bet on virtual horse races that have already taken place.

Media Relations Directors for Oaklawn Terry Wallace said that the revenue of the race track is likely to increase 60 percetn a day with expanded gambling, which means collecting around 400.000 dollars instead of the 250.000 they were collecting up until now. These calculations are based on studies carried out by the Economic Research Associates, which is a company that the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration usually uses. Wallace said that now it is time to move forward and give impulse to the project. He added that the race track is thinking about the possibility of bringing a lawsuit against opponents to the measure. He finally said that the race track has not definitive plans yet for the accommodation of the expanded gambling services.