Citizens of Kentucky are to be given the opportunity to decide whether they want to bring casinos to the US state under plans put forward by Governor Steve Beshear.

Governor Beshear and Senator Damon Thayer introduced an expanded gaming bill in the Senate earlier this week that, if passed, would authourise a statewide vote to amend the state constitution and allow casino gaming at seven locations.

The constitutional amendments would authourise up to five casinos at existing racetracks and two at standalone locations. Revenues from the gaming facilities would be channeled into job creation, education, human services, health care, veterans’ programmes, local government and support for the state’s horse industry.

Gaming has been an issue on the agenda for the past 15 years, said Beshear.

“The citizens of our state are clamouring to have their voices heard. Two recent polls show more than 80 per cent of Kentuckians want to cast a ballot on gaming. Are we going to listen to them or not?” It is estimated that expanded gaming at racetracks would bring in one-time licence fees of $266m and $377m in taxes annually.

“You continue to hear all kinds of arguments for and against allowing expanding gaming in this state,” Beshear said. “What you don’t hear, however, is one argument about why the people of Kentucky shouldn’t have a right to vote on it. That’s because there really isn’t a legitimate argument against that. The time for a vote is now.”

Last week, the influential Kentucky Chamber of Commerce endorsed plans to allow the public to decide the future of gaming, warning that the state continues to lose out to neighbouring states that have legalised casinos.