Churchill Downs may be one of the most storied racetracks in the US, but that does not mean the facility is a cash cow. Like many other tracks in the country, the economy has hurt business, and Kentucky tracks were seeking some relief from lawmakers.

That relief, in the form of slot gambling, will not come in the upcoming session, according to House Speaker Greg Stumbo. The numbers in the House have not changed much after the mid-term elections, and that means any gambling debate would likely turn out much like the past few lawmakers in the state have had.

Legislators have been discussing the possibility of giving tracks the right to operate video lottery terminals. Each time it has come up for a vote, however, the idea has been rejected. Stumbo believes that until the majority changes, or until the numbers swing more in favor of gambling proponent lawmakers, the chances of expansion are slim.

In other states, tracks have been saved by expanded gambling. Pari-mutuels in Florida have been able to survive thanks to the concession of poker rooms and slot machines. In the Sunshine State, the tax rate was just lowered on the pari-mutuel casino gambling when the state reached a compact agreement with the Seminole Indians.

Lawmakers looking to increase tax revenue for the state budget will now have to look elsewhere to try and fill the budget gaps. Senate Republicans have already unveiled a detailed agenda for the new session that starts after the new year. Gambling is not a part of that agenda, and if the House does not push the issue, it would likely be dead until at least the later part of 2011.

No major elections will take place again until 2012, at which time the gambling issue could be key for lawmakers looking to steal seats from incumbents. In many states, the gambling expansion issue has been the difference between winning and losing elections in the past four years.