Commissioners say no to horse racing

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
The Weston County Commission voted against moving forward with a resolution that would have allowed Wyoming Downs, a live horse racing and simulcast off-track facilities, blanket access to bars for its betting machines. Commissioner Tony Barton was the only board member to vote in favor of the resolution, with Chairman Marty Ertman and Commissioners Nathan Todd, Ed Wagoner and Don Taylor voting against it. 
During the board’s March 16 meeting, before the vote, the commissioners heard comment from several residents who had reservations about the gambling venture coming into the local communities. Jill Jerrard, Wyoming Downs public relations specialist, was also available via phone to answer questions. 
The board had originally discussed the topic on March 3 with Jerrard, who explained that the company was interested in using local bars to house up to four machines. According to its website, Wyoming Downs Racetrack is the largest and only privately owned racetrack in Wyoming, hosting 14 races a year at its facility 10 miles north of Evanston. Betting on the races can be done on site or at any of the off-track facilities located in Laramie, Cheyenne, Casper, Evansville, Sheridan and Rock Springs. 
In 2019, the company reported a payout of $4.2 million in taxes to cities and counties across the state. A share of that money would come to Weston County, Newcastle and Upton once machines were in place. 
Jerrard originally reported that the devices and venues are heavily regulated and monitored by the Wyoming Gaming Commission. She noted that Wyoming Downs pays for the upfront training and technological needs for each facility and their employees before the machines would go live. 
On March 3, Taylor said he was concerned about the blanket variance requested by Wyoming Downs, stating that the commissioners might want to consider reviewing and approving each location. This concern was also discussed during the March 16 meeting, with Taylor stating that he believed a site-by-site approval would leave the control in the county’s hands instead of with the gaming commission. 
Ertman said during both meetings that she did not believe the county should hyper manage the placement of the machines. 
“My two cents is that it should be county wide. I don’t want to be in the position of the board picking winners and losers,” Ertman said, adding that she has seen issues with “personalities” playing a role in liquor license approval. 
Todd noted that the skills games located in some
Weston County bars have no oversight from county or local
municipalities. 
“I don’t understand why we would have oversight over this either,” Todd said. “Other than that, I’m not 100% convinced it is a great thing, but it would bring in some tax revenue.” 
Following the board’s discussion on the topic, some residents voiced their views on the issue. 
“The only person that wins from this is Wyoming Downs,” said Allen Slagle, who noted that the financial gains for local bars and municipalities are, in his opinion, not worth the potential
negative side effects of local horse betting. 
Both Slagle and Carol Thurman said they worried about the negative effects of gambling, including addiction, on the community on local children, schools and divorce rate. 
“Do we really want to welcome another addiction into our community?” Thurman asked. “That money would have gone to the gas stations and grocery stores. How much is a family worth? Is the amount [of money] you are going to get really worth local families? I have seen the damage. The kids are the ones that are going to pay the price.” 
After listening to the public’s concerns, Barton noted that gambling in Weston County already exists in the form of the skills games and the lottery. He then cast the only vote in favor of Wyoming Downs. 
Ertman said that betting on horse races in local bars is not completely off the table and that the county can revisit the Wyoming Downs resolution at any time. 
“I would like to see how it goes in other communities for a year,” Todd added.