However, just like Metropolis and Atlantic City, the mirage of gambling’s promise eventually wears off leaving too many community members broken and an economy unstable.
The winners will be the horse industry, 800 construction workers, the 400 full- and part-time workers who’ll run the show and Christian County and Oak Grove governments who’ll collect more tax receipts. Churchill plans to have 12 days of horse racing while the slots will likely operate 365 days a year making it clear it’s not really about horses and higher purses as much as it’s about enticing Fort Campbell soldiers and Nashvillians less than an hour’s drive away. Last Friday, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved Churchill Downs’ and Keeneland’s partnership to build a Standardbred horse track, 125-room hotel, restaurants, huge amphitheater and stage, equestrian center, event center and casino which will house up to 1,500 instant racing machines. The hype of Big Gambling’s economic feast welcoming everyone to join will likely result in a few crumbs left under the table for those fooled by the ever-so-elusive riches gambling always promises. New members who sign up for an Oak Grove Reward Club card can present their valid. The people of West Kentucky have many reasons to be grateful Thanksgiving week, but news of the $150-million casino expansion project in Oak Grove is not one of them. Casino jobs available in Oak Grove, KY on Indeed.
