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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > July > 03 > Entry
Poll: Voters support slots at tracks but want vote
Ohio voters overwhelming support putting video slot machines at Ohio racetracks but they want to have the final say on the issue, not the state legislature.
Those are results from a new Quinnipiac University Poll released on Friday, July 3, and they come as the debate over video slots continues to block agreement on a new state budget.
The poll found voters support putting slots at the tracks 65-31 percent. However, they said even louder, 84-13 percent, that they should decide the issue in a referendum and not leave it to the legislature.
Gov. Ted Strickland wants the legislature to authorize putting slots at the tracks without a vote of the people. Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, says voters should decide but that Strickland can do it on his own if he wants by expanding the Ohio Lottery. Voters four times since 1990 have rejected expanded gambling proposals.
The poll also found that voters support a proposed ballot issue to allow casinos in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Columbus. Also, voters by a 60-36 percent spread; support legalized gambling in general.
The poll was taken from July 26 through Wednesday, July 1, with 1,259 voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.
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Comments
By James
July 5, 2009 7:42 AM | Link to this
Do you think gambling is going to replace manufacturing jobs.By nomoreted
July 4, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this
Only a fool would believe the results of a poll that was asked for by the Governor. The people of Ohio voted four times against gambling, and nothing has changed except Strickland’s approval ratings.By KR
July 3, 2009 10:39 PM | Link to this
Slots are the ONLY way the horse industry will survive in Oh I Owe. It’s about time somebody stepped up and allowed expanded gaming.By Don
July 3, 2009 6:26 PM | Link to this
I have alway’s been infavor of gaming in the state of Ohio. Taxes, Jobs, employment for people in Ohio. Due to the unfortunate short-sighted views of a conservative organized Ohio group, NOW IT’S TOO LITTLE TOO LATE!!!!!!!!!By FredB
July 3, 2009 3:32 PM | Link to this
This is a foolish debate. We already have widespread gambling here in OH due to the presence of the lottery, keno, racetracks, bingo, etc. How is this any different than what we already have? Also, most people can travel very easily to the Hollywood (Argosy) or Belterra. Bus tours and car pooling are possible for those who do not drive. Those who can afford it can of course go to Vegas. The “social costs” of gambling should have been addressed long before this infrastructure was put into place. Do compulsive people have the freedom in this country to make foolish mistakes and lose everything or not? The real question I want answered is: What is the saturation point? How much gambling can this state have before a negative return on investment is achieved?By Bill
July 3, 2009 3:19 PM | Link to this
“However, they said even louder, 84-31 percent, that they should decide the issue in a referendum and not leave it to the legislature.” Huh?? 84+31=115%??By ferd
July 3, 2009 3:10 PM | Link to this
WHAT MAKES YOU IDIOTS THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU VOTE TO HAVE SLOTS THAT THE PUBLIC WILL SEE ANY OF THAT MONEY. WHEN ARE YOU MORONS GOING TO WAKE UP?By Rick
July 3, 2009 2:56 PM | Link to this
The voters in this State are unbelivable. They turned down hundreds of millions last year when they rejected the casino issue. They just don’t get it, Ohioens are spending hundreds of millions in Indiana casino’s which of course gives huge tax dollars to the State of Indiana. They will do that versus keeping those dollars in Ohio by having our own casino’s. Its such basic math that it boggles me how people like this think. I bet they a they really believe the lies that were advertised in the last vote, that by the way was almost totally funded by Penn Gaming (who owns Argosy….geeze….I won’t why Penn gaming fought it so hard??!!By FreedomWriter
July 3, 2009 2:46 PM | Link to this
I finally figured out why ole Ted is in favor of putting slots at the horse tracks. Its because he feels right at home there. Hes been shoveling that horse crap going on what a couple of years now. And i mean his ideas hes been shoveling. Hey Ted-Listen to the people.. For a Change!By Indiana
July 3, 2009 1:20 PM | Link to this
Just how stupid are the people and the government of Ohio? We love you spending money in our state!By SW Ohio
July 3, 2009 1:18 PM | Link to this
Bring on the state wide casino’s and stop sending the money that Ohio needs to other states. STATE WIDE!!By John
July 3, 2009 1:04 PM | Link to this
We dont have time to wait for a vote. We need the job’s today. We need to save the 16,000 racing job’s now. We need to create 1,000’s of job’s in the casino’s. Senator’s of the State of Ohio do it nowBy DEBORAH HOWARD
July 3, 2009 12:28 PM | Link to this
LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE WITHOUT JOBS RIGHT NOW AND IF THERE IS ANY WAY THAT BRINGING THEM TO OHIO PUTS PEOPLE IN A JOB THAN BRING IT ON. LOOK AT THE FACES OF KIDS THAT DOES NOT HAVE FOOD TO EAT AND A NICE BED TO SLEEP IN. STOP AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING. THEY SAY IT WILL BRING THE DRUGS AND DRINKING AND A LOT OF TROUBLE IN TO OUR TOWNS. BUT IT’S ALREADY HERE. SO LET’S PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO WORK.