Casino Slots Proposal Becoming Hot Debate in Ohio

Ohio opponents of a proposed ballot issue on casino slots want the state to investigate strategies used by supporters to gather signatures.

The Ohio Learn and Earn Committee, a racetrack-backed group formed to get the issue on the Nov. 7 ballot, is promoting it as a way to pay for college scholarships and intentionally leaving out the fact that the scholarships would be paid for by gambling, opponents charge.

The proposal also would authorize the building of two freestanding slots parlors in Cleveland. Voters in Cuyahoga County could, after four years, authorize other casino games at the parlors and the two racetracks in the county.

The tracks and parlor developers would get 61% of the revenue and 30 percent would go for scholarships. Local governments and gambling addiction programs would get the rest. The Ohio Lottery and licensed charitable games such as bingo are permitted under state law.

Voters in 1990 and 1996 soundly defeated ballot issues that would have allowed casino slots in Ohio. Tom Smith, director of public policy for the Ohio Council of Churches and a longtime gambling opponent, said he was approached at a suburban Columbus library by a man collecting signatures for the committee.

The man, whom Smith did not identify, told him the petitions were for a ballot issue that would provide college scholarships, Smith said. When asked if the issue would involve gambling expansion, the man answered no, Smith said.

"It's unethical, if not illegal, to present the casino slots issue in this way," Smith said.

August 2, 2006
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com    Previous Page | Internet Gambling | Top Online Casinos | Submit News!