West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice "stunned the West Virginia gaming industry Thursday, issuing a news release claiming that a tentative agreement has been reached to incorporate an 'integrity fee' into the state's new sports betting law," according to a front-page piece by Phil Kabler of the CHARLESTON GAZETTE-MAIL. West Virginia Gaming & Racing Association President John Cavacini said, "I don't know how in the world we got to the point where the governor says there is a deal. There is no deal in place." Meanwhile, West Virginia state Rep. Shawn Fluharty said that he is "considering seeking an injunction against Justice to block any official action resulting from a closed-door meeting of stakeholders on Wednesday." Cavacini said, "We're trying to get the leagues some money, but we're not going to pay the integrity fee." Lottery Commission Dir Alan Larrick said that his impression of the meeting was that an integrity fee "was on the table." Larrick: "The fee being discussed was one-quarter percent. There's no agreement in place, but I think we're getting dangerously close. I do think there's an agreement in principal. Is there a final, written agreement? No." Kabler notes critics liken the integrity fee to a "shakedown." Those critics also note that sports leagues' profits "would be more than double the state's share of sports betting profits, under their proposal." Both Fluharty and Cavacini "raised issues Thursday of potential conflicts of interest Justice might have in attempting to placate professional sports, given that The Greenbrier has hosted NFL and NBA training camps, as well as an annual PGA Tour golf tournament." Fluharty said that if Justice "brings the sports betting legislation back up in special session, he will propose an amendment to exclude The Greenbrier casino from participating in sports betting" (CHARLESTON GAZETTE-MAIL, 5/11).
