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Plan calls for 14,000 slot machines at Ohio racetracks
The Ohio State Racing Commission on Thursday, March 19, endorsed a plan to put 14,000 slot machines at Ohio’s seven racetracks - including Lebanon Raceway in Warren County - to help save the horse racing industry and provide money for Ohio’s schools.
There would be an average of 2,000 machines at each track.
The commission sent the plan to the Ohio House Finance Committee which is considering Gov. Ted Strickland’s proposed two-year state budget.
Tom Zaino, former Ohio tax commissioner and a racing commission member, said the legislature can enact the proposal without a vote of the people.
The commission acted just a week after Penn National Gaming and Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, announced plans to gather signatures to put an issue on the Nov. 3 ballot to allow casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo.
Here are key elements of the proposal:
*The five-member racing commission would be expanded to nine members to regulate the slots.
*Track operators would be the agents for the slots and would be required to invest at least $80 million in improvements at each site.
*Operators would pay a license fee of $50 million each.
*When the proposal was fully implemented in four years, 48 percent of gross revenue would go the the Gaming Profits Education Fund for primary, secondary, vocational and special education. The plan would provide $195 million for education in 2010 and $625 million by 2013.
The commission unveiled the plan with the owners of Thistledown Racetrack in North Randall near Cleveland in bankruptcy proceedings. On Thursday, the commission voted to suspend Thistledown’s racing schedule if the owners can’t post a new performance bond when the current one expires on March 28.
Zaino said four other tracks also are in danger of shutting down due to the decline in the industry.
Mel Hagemeyer, general manager of Lebanon Raceway, said the Warren County track is one of them.
“On the surface it looks very good,” Hagemeyer said of the slots’ proposal. “We’re very interested.”
The proposal doesn’t have a sponsor in the legislature yet and Gov. Ted Strickland already has expressed criticism of it, as well as of the four-casino plan.
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Comments
By Rdy2GO
March 31, 2009 8:28 AM | Link to this
This is addressed to Rich. You wanted to know exactly how many people are directly connected to horse racing in Ohio. I can’t give you a number, only a summary. For every racing stable of 10 -30 horses you have several owners, a head trainer, an assistant trainer, stall cleaners,grooms, hotwalkers, warmup riders and jockeys.This is just for one stable. At the race track selling their wares are: farriers, saddle repairers, track kitchen workers(busboys,cooks, waitresses, dishwashers and suppliers of all of those food items. There are feed suppliers, hay sellers, Veterinarians, their assistants and equine medicine suppliers. Fixing the track every morning after work outs and before the races start is 50-100 preparing the track and grounds. At the races you have ticket sellers, valet parking attendants, program sellers, janitors, cooks, waitresses etc, etc, etc. Does that give you a better picture.By tom
March 26, 2009 1:34 PM | Link to this
Heard Rep. Blessing & Rep Book are working with Speaker Budish on legestlaion on the race commissions plan . 50% of a Ohio state run lottery plan is better than 33% tax from Penn gamings plan when there already paying 54% in Pa. at hollywood park in Pa.By molli
March 22, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this
Raise-, I agree that we need to look at allowing more than just slots but, when you say that we need to stop worrying about keeping jobs and focus on creating them, I feel you are a bit off track. If you do not maintain the 16,000 or 17,000 jobs (whichever stats you use) from horse racing, and focus purely on creating more, you are taking one step forward and two steps back. It is this mentality that has seen this issue go before the voters countless times with no progress. The already existing race tracks would be excellent venues for casinos. Let’s take two steps forward by putting gambling at the tracks; save the racing industry and create more jobs through gaming.By TRS
March 21, 2009 5:03 PM | Link to this
King - normally I would agree with you regarding grammer and sentence structure but based on Jon’s statement, he seems to view himself as intellectually superior to all in the state of Ohio. One needs to live up to such a reputation. As for gambling the libertarian in me say it should be legal; but, when you google gambling the first sites which pop up talk about gambling addictions, etc. I have no problem with recreational gambling for entertainment; but, some folks can’t control it. Society should be aware that they will be picking up the tab on those with such issues.By King of the Lizard People
March 21, 2009 11:22 AM | Link to this
TRS your a moron… this is a blog and no one expects anyone to use perfect grammar or sentence structure. THe only thing that matters is that anyone who wishes to post an opinion on the subject can…by the way the english blog is down the hall on the right. Back to subject I certainly hope that OH does it right and legalize gaming so that Ohioans can start to benefit from an industry that our surrounding states have already taken advantage. I have several locations I think would be perfect for gaming facilities…Columbus…marietta…cincinnati…cleveland…sandusky.By TRS
March 21, 2009 12:31 AM | Link to this
Uneducated, eh? Anyone see anything wrong with Jon’s sentence structure, capitalization and puncuation. Perhaps he isn’t the best person to comment on education.By jon
March 20, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this
Doesn’t Really matter, the uneducated folks of ohio(which there are alot) keep listening to the bible beaters, and refuse to make there own independent conclusion. Also Strickland likes to say that this is not a fix all for ohio, which i agree, but nobody said it was. Makes me wonder if we had gambling the last 10 years and the monies received from that (lets say around 5 billion for the 10years, guess) that the state would not be having the finacial troubles we have now.By Raise
March 20, 2009 12:29 PM | Link to this
We should not be looking at the horse racing aspect…the real issue should OH to permit casino gaming. Allowing just slots may save some jobs but to create the jobs OH must go past slots and legitimize other forms of gaming such as black jack, poker, craps, etc. etc.etc. That is where OH has an opportunity to create jobs in an already struggling job market. We need to stop thinking of saving jobs and start thinking of CREATING jobs.By Starbuck777
March 20, 2009 11:22 AM | Link to this
Why is Ohio always 20 to 30 years behind the times? Do they think 38 states with slots don’t know what they are doing. When the tracks close and the farmers can’t sell hay and straw and more people lose their jobs, maybe Ohio will wake up.. too late as usual. No one can stop a person who wants to gamble.. unless you burn down the bridge to Indiana. If you don’t like slots you don’t have to go. 70 % of the cars at the Argosy are from Ohio. The Argosy spent 36 million to badmouth the slots in the last election. Wake up Ohio…By nohypocrite
March 20, 2009 11:18 AM | Link to this
if gambling is so bad then why does the catholic church ok it and bingo, oh yeah to raise funds when the church needs it.By Rich
March 20, 2009 10:46 AM | Link to this
The Deloitte study was done for the industry, which does NOT automatically make it suspicious, but there are wildly varying estimates of horse racing’s effect in Ohio floating around out there. www.savingohioracing.com estimates 16,000 jobs and $770 million; ourohio.org says 25,000 jobs and $900 million annually; Tom Zaino says failure by 5 of 7 racetracks will mean loss of 8600 jobs and $328 million. What does the state of Ohio’s own State Racing Commission say? None of these numbers ought to be dismissed without real proof — but what IS the real effect in Ohio?By Carol Showers
March 20, 2009 10:19 AM | Link to this
Well I go back on forth on this one. Part of me worrys about mt kids getting adicted to gambeling. The other part of me sees it as a way to make money, not only for the casenios but also ME to make some money while plauing the slot machenes. I think if they have video survalence at the places and security then it should be OK as long as you can’t just play if under 18 or 21 and cant have them ANYWHERE. I think at casinos and ractracks it could bring in money.By relax2009
March 20, 2009 9:06 AM | Link to this
I used to work with Thoroughbreds and plan to get into training, racing, and breeding. But I know that to make any money, I’ll have to leave Ohio, and I’m not prepared to do that. My family is here, and I love Ohio, but to do what I love I’ll have to leave. Races at Mountaineer pay three times as much as River Downs, but the winning time is no faster. The same horse who wins here could win there, but would bring home much more. So the good breeders, trainers, jockies, etc. all go to KY, WV, MD, etc to work. Allowing slot machines is a way to invest in the state’s economy without taking money from the people who don’t want to participate. What is the problem with that?By Raise
March 20, 2009 9:00 AM | Link to this
I think the debate is mute…it is idiotic that Ohio does not permit gaming…it is losing millions from revenues it could be recieving from gaming. Not to mention the job creation. Ohio is losing tourist dollars, not to mention the dollars Ohioans spend at the Casinos in MI-IN-WV. My question is why is the state of OH only considering slots…what about table games, etc. If it is going to only do it halfway then why bother…it is all or nothing. A slot only policy would still mean OH would be losing a lot of $$$ to the surrounding states.By kjm
March 20, 2009 8:48 AM | Link to this
If gambling is truly bad, why do all the other states have it? Many Ohio people, inclunding myself enjoy going to Indiana, West Virginia and las Vegas for gambling. This money could be spent in my home town, helping put people to work. I say yes, allow the casinos or the slot machines in the race tracks in Ohio. Wake up Ohio and get with the program. We need to create jobs.By Travis Amos
March 20, 2009 7:24 AM | Link to this
A study done by Deloitte estimates that the Ohio horse industry produces a total economic impact of $2.2 billion on the Ohio economy. The industry involves over 180,000 Ohioans and generates over 16,000 direct jobs. This is more than Honda and Proctor and Gamble combined. Racing alone employs over 8,000 people and has an impact of over $700 million on the Ohio economy. (This does not include the farmers, vehicle/farm machinery manufacturers, and other services used to make racing possible.) But in recent years, those numbers have been rapidly shrinking. Where Ohio used to lead the country in the production of standardbred foals, in a matter of several years, it has dropped to sixth.By Joe
March 20, 2009 5:42 AM | Link to this
I love horse racing. But, when I have gone to Ohio and Kentucky tracks the last couple of years, the quality of horse racing has declined. The simple reason is that Indiana and West Virginia with casinos at their tracks offer larger purses than either Ohio or Kentucky. Purses at Mountaineer Park in West Virginia average more than Keeneland because the casino supplements purses. Consequently, trainers and owners race their best horses at Mountaineer for the larger purses. In order to keep horse racing alive in Ohio and Kentucky, we either need casino gambling or a bail out stimulus package for our local horse racing industry.By quitfixingtheraces
March 20, 2009 1:43 AM | Link to this
Clean up the the Tracks and quit fixing the races then maybe I will go back. Like I really want to play slots in a dirty and rigged enviroment. People dont complain anymore they just dont go back!!!!By TKidding
March 19, 2009 8:24 PM | Link to this
Strickland is opposed to this because the people over at the gambling commission don’t know how the game is played. No one has offered Strickland any compaign contributions. If you want to play the game you have to pay the piper!!By hg
March 19, 2009 5:58 PM | Link to this
Since the state of ohio has the monopoly on gambling with the lottery, why not open up casino style gambling? The state lottery is for the poor of our state. The casinos are for those that want to make the trip. I would agree to the legalization of marijuana. Prostitution may work in a controlled brothel situation; like Nevada. Why should the state of ohio continue with their monopoly on gambling and screwing everyone else with their taxes; without the enjoyment a brothel would bring?By Rich
March 19, 2009 3:48 PM | Link to this
Once and for all, I would like to know: HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY WORK DIRECTLY IN CONNECTION WITH HORSE RACING IN OHIO? The claim is always made that significant numbers do work in this industry, but I’ve never seen clear, unbiased proof of this. I don’t want to see any industry fade away, but my own (pulp and paper) is dying in this country — and NO ONE has put up a proposal to bail us out. So, EXACTLY how many work in Ohio horse racing?By KR
March 19, 2009 3:34 PM | Link to this
The horse racing industry in Ohio is in dire straights. Other states have casino gambling at its racetracks, including California. This would be a win win for everyone involved. What is taking so long?????By painfultruth
March 19, 2009 2:58 PM | Link to this
If Strickland is so against gambling, why does the Ohio Lottery still exist? Hipocricy is his mode of operation, just like his messiah, Obama. Liar, liar, pants on fire! Ohio is doing its best to bring business to surrounding states with the stupid restrictions “the voters” have put in place. You’re getting just what you voted for - NOTHING!By flipper
March 19, 2009 2:35 PM | Link to this
I say give in to the slot machines. And while they’re at it let’s legalize marijuana and prostitution. All would generate money for government. Hooray for immorality!