Vote date set for Oaklawn gaming

The Hot Springs, Ark., city council on Tuesday night set Nov. 8 as the date for a local referendum asking residents to decide if new electronic gaming machines can be added to the wagering lineup at Oaklawn Park.

The type of machines will be defined by the Arkansas Racing Commission, and they will be different than the Instant Racing machines already in place at the track, said Terry Wallace, spokesman for Oaklawn.

This spring, the Arkansas legislature passed a bill that enabled Oaklawn to petition Hot Springs for a vote on expanded gaming.

Oaklawn, which would need no further legislative approval for gaming after a favorable referendum, has tied a gaming-funded community benefits program to the vote that would fund scholarships and senior care if expanded gaming passes.