Ohio Casino Gambling Proposal Argument Heating Up
Both supporters and foes of the plan to bring casino gambling to Ohio have been motivated to speak out as the process unfolds. A petition to add the gaming proposal to the ballot received more than twice the number of necessary signatures, while opponents promised to file suit to prevent the governor from installing slots without a general vote.
Governor Ted Strickland has suggested placing video lottery terminals at state reace tracks, a move he says can be made without a state constitutional amendment. Meanwhile, a measure to place new casinos in four Ohio cities, which does need voter approval, received over 850,000 signatures, with only 402,275 needed.
David Zanotti, president of the conservative watchdog Ohio Roundtable, is opposed to both plans but says Strickland's is illegal. He says installing slots is not an option given the Ohio Lottery by the state constitution, and the plan ignores voter rejection of the same idea as recently as 2006.
The Ohio Council of Retail Merchants supports Strickland's track racino concept. President John Mahaney says expanded gambling is needed to recover Ohio dollars floating across borders to neighboring states.
"If they're going to gamble, it would seem to me that they should be able to stay in Ohio and keep their money here," said Mahaney.
Asked if voters should approve the move first, the retailer replied, "It occurred to me that Ohioans had already expressed their moral view on gambling by going to other states to do it."
