NEWS
Plan calls for casino gambling at Ohio tracks
Posted: Monday, January 12, 2009 3:30 PM
Racetrack and casino owner Penn National Gaming Inc. is talking with Ohio lawmakers about sponsoring a November 2009 ballot measure that would allow full Las Vegas-style gambling at Ohio’s seven racetracks.
The Columbus Dispatch reported on January 10 that officials from Penn National have discussed the idea with Ohio Governor Ted Strickland as well as leaders in the Ohio House and Senate. If 60% of House and Senate members favor the ballot measure, it would go before the voters in November without the requirement of 400,000 petition signatures.
The draft, which was obtained by the Dispatch, would call for full casino gambling at the state’s three Thoroughbred tracks and four harness tracks. The seven racetracks would pay a $50-million licensing fee for full Las Vegas-style gambling. Penn National owns Raceway Park, a harness track in Toledo.
The plan also would allow for four stand-alone casinos in the Buckeye State.
Keith Dailey, a spokesman for the governor, told the paper that the governor’s willingness to listen did not indicate support of any added gambling plan but noted that the state’s revenues are deteriorating.
“The governor continues to believe that expanded gambling would be bad for Ohio,” Dailey told the Dispatch.
Ohio voters turned down different casino measures in 2006 and ’08 after twice opposing issues in the 1990s.
