Under a new state law, four West Virginia counties will hold referenda to allow poker, blackjack, craps, and roulette at existing racetracks that currently have slot machines. The four counties are Hancock and Ohio (both west of Pittsburgh in the panhandle), Kanawha (home of the state capital and not too far from the Ohio/Kentucky state line), and Jefferson (easternmost county, about an hour from Washington and Baltimore).
Each county decides independently. Jefferson and Ohio counties will hold special elections on June 9. Early voting has already started. Kanawha and Hancock counties were also going to vote on June 9, but missed procedural deadlines. Hancock will vote on June 30. Kanawha will not vote until August.
It will be interesting to see what happens. I’m neither for nor against the referenda, but were Jefferson County’s to pass I would eventually drive over there to check out the poker.
