What was intended as a forum on table gambling turned into a discussion on
video gambling, its journey and its impact on the region’s future. ”I think
it was a very good forum, and the participants asked all of us very good
questions,î said state Sen. Ed Bowman, D-Hancock, following the forum held
Monday evening at West Liberty State College. ”I would welcome more of
these types of forums. Bowman was one of the panelists along with Hancock
County Commission President Jeff Davis, Hancock County Commissioner Danny
Greathouse and Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort Chief Executive
Officer Ted Arneault. Members of the college’s Students in Free Enterprise
organization sponsored the panel discussion. SIFE is worldwide, and the club
engages in activities that teach others about economics, entrepreneurship
and the free enterprise system. SIFE Adviser Gary Hypes said table gambling
is one item on the front burner, and the group wanted to explore the issue.
He said the panel was set as one in favor of table gambling. He aims to have
a forum next semester to discuss the disadvantages. Bowman said he has
supported a local referendum before video lottery came into the picture. He
believes people have the right to vote on what happens in their community,
and people have approached him about the right to vote since he started his
public service career. Arneault said local-option voting has already
occurred in the state. The state Legislature gave Greenbrier County
residents the chance to decide whether they wanted table gambling at the
Greenbrier. The residents voted it down, but it showed the local option
works and it gives people a say in their area’s direction, Arneault said.

”West Virginia has had eight local-option elections in its history,î”
Arneault said. ”Five of them passed, and three failed.î

Arneault said Mountaineer used an outside company to find statewide West
Virginia residents’ and Hancock residents’ opinions on the matter. The
survey showed about 64.9 percent favor table gambling, while 42.1 percent
are against it. In Hancock County, 67 percent are in favor and 26 percent
are against it.

West Virginia will have to compete with Ohio and Pennsylvania, Arneault
said, adding if Issue 3 passes in Ohio on Nov. 7, it will give citizens the
right to vote if they want slot machines.

The Meadows in Washington County, Pa., is close to providing video gambling
at its facility. The panel believes Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming
Center probably will take the biggest hit. The center could lose 25 percent
to 30 percent of its revenue once the Meadows goes online in January or
February. Panel members also said Mountaineer could lose 15 percent. If Ohio
and Pennsylvania offer video gambling, those projected losses could be
higher.

Arneault also wanted to distinguish Mountaineer and the other three state
racetracks from neighborhood video gambling cafes. The cafes, establishments
located in neighbors with video lottery machines, are convenient but don’t
offer the venues like the four racetracks.

Mountaineer is a destination resort. People visit with disposable income and
spend it on entertainment.

They are also attracted to the resort’s other activities, and Mountaineer
has transformed and expanded its non-gaming attractions, according to
officials.

Greathouse said before Arneault took over, Mountaineer was under a different
name, had a hotel and a racetrack.

Mountaineer now has the second largest convention center in the state, a
hotel, The Harv, a spa, an athletic center, a golf course and a first-class
restaurant. Arneault hopes to develop Mountaineer further.

”It’s ironic that Ohio and Pennsylvania want the same thing as Hancock
wants – the right to vote,î” Greathouse said. ”Table gaming could buy time
for Mountaineer to finish transforming as a destination resort.”