SEARCH NEWS:

 

Ohio Senate Going Ahead with Legalized Slot Plan

"The charge will be led by the Ohio Senate, which yesterday scrapped an earlier proposal to put the controversial issue before voters. Instead, it now proposes to authorize the devices outright.

"…The so-called video lottery terminals would be regulated by the Ohio Lottery Commission. They are viewed as an imperfect policy solution to raise an estimated $900 million - without raising taxes - toward a projected $4 billion budget gap next year.

"…Sen. Lou Blessing, the Cincinnati Republican sponsoring the new bill, said the Senate felt out-of-state casinos probably would join anti-gambling groups to fight a ballot issue `no matter what.' He said legislation backing the machines could help racetracks defend themselves against their efforts.

"Supporters of the slot machines argue that Ohioans are going to out-of-state casinos to use the machines, siphoning much-needed revenue from the state's languishing treasury. Opponents say their social costs far outweigh any revenue the machines would generate…"

< Gaming News