WVVA TV Bluefield Beckley WV News, Weather and SportsW.Va. gov seeks to cut video lottery machines
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Associated Press - January 15, 2010 4:15 PM ET
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia would permanently remove 1,500 machines from the allowable statewide array of video lottery parlors, under Gov. Joe Manchin's proposal for how the state should rebid their licenses.
Manchin has recommended that the Lottery Commission reduce the maximum number of machines from 9,000 to 7,500.
The governor announced his proposal Friday, when a select panel he appointed advised no additional changes to the licensing process following a review and several public hearings.
More than 1,600, bars, clubs and fraternal groups held licenses last month. Together they hosted just over 8,030 of the casino-style machines. The 10-year licenses expire and must be rebid in July 2011.
The state set the 9,000 limit in 2001 when it adopted video lottery.
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