SWEETWATER COUNTY – The Sweetwater County Commission approved two resolution amendments for Wyoming Downs, LLC’s off-track horse betting locations Tuesday, but kept the three-year sunset dates. .
Resolution changes were approved for the Town Bar & Grill locations in Green River, located at 95 East Railroad, and 63 Center Street in Rock Springs, which is the old Sears building. Both resolutions allow Wyoming Downs to conduct pari-mutuel betting on live horse racing, historic horse racing, simulcast events, and rodeo events at these venues.
However, Wyoming Downs seeks to remove the sunset dates of these resolutions, requiring them to reapply every three years.
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The Commission unanimously agreed that sunset dates should be kept, as it allows the Commission to review resolutions.
“Two weeks ago we received money from the state about gambling addiction… well it seems like there’s no sense in a sense where the money goes when you have these sunset dates that don’t even exist and the gambling can continue. on anyway as long as you have a permit from the state gaming commissions,” said Chairman Keaton West.
Andrew Hubert, a Wyoming Downs representative, said he is fine with the sunset dates, but he believes they should be consistent with all off-track horse betting facilities in the county. He said that currently, the Wyoming Downs sites are the only ones that have to come every three years.
Buckley Hubert, owner of Town Bar & Grill, said the playground should be even if these locations. He said he used to have Horse Palace at his facility before moving to Wyoming Downs.
“I am concerned that I have been struggling for the last five years to keep my place open. I asked for a horse race five years ago and fought the city, fought the county, fought the state, they didn’t want me to have it, but they were okay with the Horse having an open blanket. Palace to open any facility they want,” admitted B. Hubert.
“That’s why in the end when I let the Horse Palace in here, the way they operate… I don’t think it’s good. That’s why I asked them to leave my establishment, and by asking them to leave my establishment, they have free reign without being told to move to the city and do whatever they want and be my competition,” he said.
He said he had to “fight tooth and nail” with the previous County Commission to get approval for Wyoming Downs to enter his business. “And then a three-year sunset date was put on me but nothing else,” he said.
Chairman West said it makes sense that all off-track horse betting locations have the same sunset date. However, he said that the decisions were made by a previous Commission. West said he had no issue revisiting the resolutions at each of the locations, but this was the first to come to their attention.
“I feel that this was only imposed on me, it was not imposed on any other person in the county. My facility generates as much revenue as theirs, and they have no management. They don’t have to come and visit you, they don’t have to report to you, you just get whatever reports the state gives them, but I have to come and visit again every three years,” said B .Hubert. “To me it’s not fair… I feel like it should be a level playing field. If I must have a three-year sunset, I believe that all entities must have a three-year sunset.
Commissioner Island Richards said these types of betting locations have the power to have both positive and negative effects on the community. Therefore, he does not think that they should say that these locations must exist forever and have no sunset dates.
He believes they should all be inspected every three years, and if they can meet other permits legally, then they should.