By Judy

July 12, 2009 4:43 PM | Link to this

Slots at the track is so much better than at “7 to be named sites”. This way the horse industry will also benefit, and “NO”, it is not a bunch of “dying ponies” as referenced by Ned Hill of Cleveland State University. The industry, however, is greatly in need of the boost that slots will give them. Thank you Governor Strictland!

By KR

July 11, 2009 4:45 PM | Link to this

robbie.rowe is exactly correct. Slots are the ONLY way to save the horse industry in OHIO. I’m not a slot player, but now I’ll go back to the track and lay down a bet or two on the ponies. This is one of the few things that Strickland has done right.

By robbie.rowe

July 11, 2009 3:53 PM | Link to this

I am a thoroughbred horse owner. A big thanks to Mr Strickland! The Ohio horse(racing) industry directly supports 15,000 jobs in Ohio. It is in serious danger of going under because most of our surrounding states have slots and casinos which support large purses. The horsemen simply go to those states because of the larger purses. So, it is not just a matter of raising money to balance the budget via the slots. I hope most readers realize the importance of the track to the ohio economy. Directly and indirectly via vets, hay, straw etc it is a 2 billion dollar a year business in Ohio. Please let’s not lose another large business to stupidity.

By Steve Massie

July 11, 2009 3:43 PM | Link to this

I think this is the only way the State can get ahead of the game. If Ohio people would have passed the Casino bill, Ohio would have all kinds of jobs. Peolpe should make up there own minds, and not listen to others who don’t know what they talk about. Yes it is mainly the churchs. They don’t want gambling here , well they should stop playing there bingo. I think the churchs should have to pay taxes. Look at all the money they make. Some do help, but I don’t think you new a buliding costing in the millions take that money help all the people who are loosing everthing which they have worked for all their lives. Yes Ohio needs Slot machines.

By Anette

July 11, 2009 10:51 AM | Link to this

I’ve been to the Indiana casinos and the only drug dealers there are the white collar executives sitting at the black jack tables. I enjoy it and like someone else mentioned a great portion of the people there are from Ohio. There are several buses that leave Dayton daily with gamblers going to those casinos. People are going to gamble no matter what. Might as well keep the revenue here.

By Educated

July 11, 2009 10:13 AM | Link to this

People keep talking about the Ohio Lottery. Any profit from the lottery goes directly into Ohio’s general fund. Maybe you’ve heard all the commercials stating: take a chance for education” which is all nonsense. You can bet however that real money raised from slots will be in Strickland’s campaign fund.

By libraryworker

July 11, 2009 9:31 AM | Link to this

Isn’t there some economy major college student in Ohio who has some brilliant idea to help fix this mess? Maybe we should divert Lottery money during the summer months to other programs.

By good knight

July 11, 2009 9:27 AM | Link to this

Do you want new jobs and ancillary businesses? Pitch morality out the door and have state-backed brothels and state-backed street drug businesses. Ohio can grow its own call girls and drugs, heavily tax but state regulate these new businesses, with no regard to moral impact on the state. However, revel in the increased tax dollars. How does that sound?

By libraryworker

July 11, 2009 9:26 AM | Link to this

Working in a public library, I’ve taken a pay cut and now they’re looking at a 1 or 2 week furlough (no pay at all). I think all the legislators should be honor bound to take at least a 1 week furlough if not a 2 week furlough. How much money would that save?

By Russ

July 11, 2009 7:20 AM | Link to this

Slots in Ohio? NO! The state cannot even police the Bingo industry in Ohio which after being investigated several years ago has returned to the corruption again. If they cannot stop corruption in bingo how can they ever hope to keep the slots/gambling free of corruption? Never!

By cobra

July 11, 2009 6:36 AM | Link to this

It is depressing watching big government ruin the state of Ohio. While most people like myself take pay cuts, two in the last year and lose personal leave, and pay the state back $65.00 every two weeks to work for them that state KINGS DO NOT TAKE A LOOK AT THEMSELVES. Why do not they take a pay cut? Why do not they work overtime to make ends meet? It is very real that all they want to do is tell us what to do and they can do what ever they want to! After working for the state for the last twenty years it is very TRUE that the “THE GOOD OLE BOYS; STILL EXIST!!!

By Ted

July 10, 2009 11:36 PM | Link to this

Just call me “One Term Ted.” Gotta go… the village called and they want their idiot back.

By mike riley

July 10, 2009 11:29 PM | Link to this

Ive been to the river boat’s in indiana and to the dog track’s in west virgina and 70% of the cars in the lot are from ohio.Slots are not a cure all but we need to keep that money in ohio.

By :)

July 10, 2009 10:46 PM | Link to this

Someone finally smartened up enough to NOT let the idiots in OHIO vote it down! Go Strickland!!!

By Butch Tankersley

July 10, 2009 10:16 PM | Link to this

I don’t know what it is going to take to make people realize that casino’s means jobs, tax money, and more buisnesses to Ohio. On one hand you complain about buisnesses leaving Ohio and no new ones moving in. On the other hand you have the the opportunity to vote in new buisnesses and you don’t. Hey, trade places with all the people who have lost their jobs in Ohio that would gladly go to work at a casino or a new buisness near it. If the regulators will do their job than there will be a lot of tax money to collect. People are begging for jobs. You could be one of those people if things don’t turn around in this state. I have to back Governor Strickland on this one.

By Sue

July 10, 2009 9:00 PM | Link to this

So, where does this leave programs like Help Me Grow?

By Jim

July 10, 2009 8:59 PM | Link to this

“another tax on the poor and uneducated.” Well it is about time the welfare sector start paying too!

By The Hon

July 10, 2009 8:57 PM | Link to this

This is so stupid! It provides money to the state of Ohio and jobs to other key cities, but IT PROVIDES NO JOBS FOR DAYTON RESIDENTS. You can’t afford to drive to Lebanon for a low to modest paying job because you spend most of your money on gas. How stupid!

By Sally

July 10, 2009 7:23 PM | Link to this

Strickland will be a one term failure because he ignored the wishes of the voters of the great state of Ohio. Four times we said no! I bet me will learn he got a payout from the pro-gambling industry.

By tds70

July 10, 2009 5:27 PM | Link to this

Gene is in dreamland! Gambling may not be the answer, but added tax cuts are not either. Ohio has cut taxes for the past 10 years to the point where they can not cover costs. If the budget doesn’t balance, you do what everone else does. You borrow, and spend less, not cut your salary. If the budget has a 5% deficit, then you spend 5% less across the board. If Gene wants tax cuts, I say less police , school and emergency service for his area, and forget about road repairs, close his library, and any park within 50 miles of his house. Cut his water, or at least the treatment of it. Cancel bus servces, and if he loses his job, he is not allowed to get any unemployment. He is last on any fire call that may come in. That should help cover it. The current dollars going to business start-up should not be canceled as long as they are not service type jobs , which are not helpful in the long run. Reality check everyone. It took 10 yrs to get here , and the regulators looking the other way while business and banks invested recklessly. Good luck to us all. Work hard, and spend less. A simple formula.

By gene

July 10, 2009 5:13 PM | Link to this

Gambling costs more than it is worth. Indiana is in a fiscal crisis right now, so it is not the money generator that people think. How about a tax cut instead, and incentive for business to move here?

By TJ

July 10, 2009 5:07 PM | Link to this

Strickland is nothing short of an idiot. How may times do Ohioans have to vote no to gambling, and then have him pass it along anyway? He needs to be out of office, he has the brains of Mayor Mchat.

By Travis Aker

July 10, 2009 5:06 PM | Link to this

I will not for you Mr Strickland coming up in the next election you can guarntee that one.

By Travis Aker

July 10, 2009 5:01 PM | Link to this

That sucks!!! Slot machines ain’t going to do nothing cut the state budget in Ohio, this state is absolutely ridiculous!!! Strickland should be fired.

By thegambler

July 10, 2009 4:59 PM | Link to this

another tax on the poor and uneducated.

By craig

July 10, 2009 4:56 PM | Link to this

Indiana casinos are saying the are in the red and need a bailout and more tax breaks….watch the Ohio slots and casinos ask for tax breaks and rebates…the state will lose money on this…have fun losers!

By Karen

July 10, 2009 4:26 PM | Link to this

It’s about time!

By Vic

July 10, 2009 4:16 PM | Link to this

The people might have spoken on the slot issue. However, there common sense must not have had a voice because if it did, we would have had slots the first time it was on the ballot. Instead, we are how many billion in debt? Guess it took the Gov, Sen, and House of Reps to finally have some common sense. Thank goodness!

By Andrew

July 10, 2009 4:09 PM | Link to this

Bad deal. The people of Ohio have spoken on this issue before, and the governor and legislature have ignored the voice of those who put them in office. We will remember.

By John

July 10, 2009 4:06 PM | Link to this

15 year’s late, but better late than never. Thank you Gov,Rep’s and Sen.’s

By Vic

July 10, 2009 3:58 PM | Link to this

They finally got something right in OHIO. Yeah! Now all of the Ohio money won’t be going to Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Canada, & Pennsylvania.