Senate Committee Approves Casino Gambling Proposal

Casinos could be built in Kentucky under a proposal that received a thumbs-up from a Senate committee on Wednesday.

The State and Local Government Committee voted 7-4 after hearing testimony from the state's leading casino proponent, Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear.

Beshear has been pressing lawmakers for a constitutional amendment that would allow Kentuckians to wager on more than horse races, which is a longstanding tradition in the Bible-belt state.

Wednesday's vote was the first on the issue since lawmakers convened in early January.

The measure now goes to the full Senate for consideration. If approved there, it then would have to be approved by the House before being submitted to voters.