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Plan for VLTs at Ohio tracks faces opposition

Posted: Monday, June 29, 2009 6:23 PM

by Frank Angst

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland’s plan to balance the state budget through the addition of video lottery terminals at the state’s seven racetracks is facing opposition in the Ohio Senate.

The Democrat governor said on Saturday that the Republican-controlled Senate has not adopted his budget, which counts on VLT revenue to cover a $3.2-billion budget gap.

Strickland conducted a press conference on Monday and suggested Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland) and other Republican Senators are attempting to distance themselves from the issue by suggesting that Strickland has the power to add VLTs.

Strickland would like to see support from the Legislature for such a plan, citing a letter from racetrack owners noting that without the authorization of the Legislature, the Ohio Lottery could be prevented from moving forward. Strickland called on the Senate to approve a plan by Tuesday, the end of the fiscal year.

“This is a shared responsibility,” Strickland said.

Unwilling to approve the addition of VLTs, the Senate was expected to approve a seven-day interim budget plan, according to the Cincinnati Business Courier.

Harris said the Senators want voter approval to be a requirement of any expanded gambling plan.

“I cannot get past the fact that the voters of Ohio—our constituents—have spoken on expanded gambling time and again,” Harris said in a statement. “Asking the General Assembly to circumvent their will in such a short time frame when there has been no formal public debate and there are so many questions left unanswered is unreasonable.”

The developments in Ohio come on the heels of similar circumstances earlier this month in Kentucky, where Democrat Governor Steve Beshear favored putting VLTs at racetracks but watched that plan fail to advance out of the Republican-controlled Senate.

Strickland noted that seven Ohio Senators, including Harris, favored a similar plan for expanded gaming at racetracks in 2007. That plan would have allowed Instant Racing machines, which offer the action of slot machines although their payouts are based on pari-mutuel wagering.

“I do not see any significant distinction between what the seven Senators have previously voted for and what we are asking for now,” Strickland said, noting that he has been willing to compromise on his previous opposition to expanded gambling in order to balance a budget without increasing taxes.

Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times