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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > July > 15 > Entry
Editorial: Strickland gamble has big risks here
If you’re excited that casino-style gambling might be coming to Montgomery or Warren counties, you’re jumping the gun.
The only thing to be excited about is that things are happening so quickly that this venture could go badly wrong here, thanks to Gov. Ted Strickland.
Warren County commissioners, who own the property where Lebanon Raceway is, don’t want to allow that track’s owners to bring in video lottery terminals. Now that the state is allowing 2,500 slots at each of Ohio’s seven racetracks, the raceway desperately wants them to prop up its teetering business.
So, in the budget bill, there’s a provision written just for Lebanon that allows the Ohio Racing Commission to transfer the raceway’s license to another site, so long as it’s not more than 50 miles from where it is now; there isn’t a track already in existence in the county it moves to; and that the new site is in a contiguous county.
Montgomery County fits all the fine print.
The only insurance against Montgomery or Warren County becoming the site of a new, but cheesy, glorified bingo hall is that both the county commission and the city commission or city council or township trustees in the relevant jurisdiction have to support a track — with slots — being built.
If those elected officials don’t like what’s being proposed, the state racing commission can’t sign off on the track moving.
Where to begin with the concerns:
— Lebanon’s raceway owns 100-plus acres of property in Warren County along I-75, according to Warren County Commissioner Pat South. That raises the possibility that the raceway owners are shopping for a deal and just using Montgomery County as leverage to get special considerations from Warren County.
— Gov. Ted Strickland ordered the Ohio Lottery Commission, which will oversee the new gambling machines, to require a minimum investment of $80 million over five years at the tracks where any slots are installed.
That money won’t go very far if the goal is to create a first-class entertainment venue. (The casino that was proposed for Wilmington, and that voters rejected last year, was a $600 million complex.)
— One site that’s being mentioned for a new track is the Austin Pike interchange. Plans have been in the works literally for years to make that a vibrant commercial area. Montgomery County has touted the site as its last chance to spur development along I-75 and to capture some of the growth that’s been occurring between Dayton and Cincinnati, but mostly toward Cincinnati.
Consenting to a horse track would be radically changing the vision for that area and could — depending on the quality of the enterprise — complicate attracting businesses.
Austin Pike is prime real estate. There’s no reason to settle for anything sub par.
— What not everybody understands is that the governor’s decision does not allow casinos. Rather, he’s taking the most liberal interpretation of a constitutional amendment that created the lottery and says it allows him to permit video lottery terminals — as if they’re a computerized version of scratch-off tickets.
There is no skill in playing slots, and critics rightly say that the machines too often suck money from people who don’t have it to begin with.
— Because the racetracks aren’t rolling in money and they’ll be required to put up $65 million in the next year — $15 million of it by Sept. 15 — if they want to have slots, some people believe the track owners will have to sell their racing licenses.
The significance of that is: The people Montgomery County officials are meeting with about Lebanon moving might or might not be the people really calling the shots.
In turning to gambling to bail Ohio partially out of its financial problems, Gov. Strickland is making a major public policy decision that gives Ohio’s seven horse racing tracks a monopoly on gambling. He’s hurriedly negotiated a deal that in all probability would look much different — and be better for taxpayers — if it had been vetted in the light of day and had been subject to meaningful public scrutiny.
Now because of his decision, Montgomery County and Warren County are both in the gaming interests’ sights.
They are looking out for themselves, not this region.
Permalink | Comments (17) | Post your comment | Categories: Editorials, Ellen Belcher, Montgomery County, Ohio politics, Suburban Communities
Comments
By William
July 15, 2009 6:01 PM | Link to this
Once again, the DDN just does not get it. A large segment of the population, certainly more than gets reported, will spend their money on slots, lottery and the race track. Certainly gambling is not the answer to all fiscal woes, but it does bring in money. Just ask the folks at the new Hollywood Casino. Folks do not want to see large casinos built in Ohio, but go to your local mini-mart and those lottery machines just click away. The DDN can keep playing the “holier than thou card,” but the reality is that the slots will bring in a ton of cash. See you at confession DDN editorial board, just make sure you bring your lottery money and change for slots!By John
July 15, 2009 7:01 PM | Link to this
Quit hating. Enjoy the new racino. Horse racing , slot’s and a fun$200. million projectBy teacher
July 15, 2009 8:19 PM | Link to this
Too bad the schools will never see a dime of the proceeds.By Herb
July 15, 2009 10:25 PM | Link to this
The income tax which was started in 1973 or so was for the schools. Lot of hot air. Then the lottery was added also for the schools. But the legislature just withdrew other payments to schools and replaced them with lottery, giving a net decrease in their actual funding from what it should have been. ……………Who thinks money from gambling will be handled any better by our legislators.By JohnP
July 16, 2009 12:41 AM | Link to this
Hey, William, Anti-Gambling organzation are going to court to stop video gaming. Stating the Governor does not have the executive authority to put them in race tracks only the Ohio voters. They have won in court every time. Why should race tracks have exclusivity? Put them in every business in schools and churches too. That way nobody can raise the “holier that thou card”. If the horse racing business can’t make it on it’s own four hoofs then it should be put out to pasture and fail. It should not be bailed out by other types of gambling. William I bet you were against all the government bailouts.By Pop
July 16, 2009 9:53 AM | Link to this
Here we do again. Our government trying to force another hair brained idea down our throats. The people of Ohio have voted down casino gambling 4 times. This would make it easy for the government to raise money but it is something the people of Ohio don’t want. They need to find another way. No one said it would be easy to serve in government. These folks campaigned for these jobs now they to need to do those jobs in a fashion that is agreeable to those who put them in the positions they asked for. They forget that they serve us and not us serve them.By Gambling
July 16, 2009 11:22 AM | Link to this
Do it allright….Gamble your Heart away….By Outside Observer
July 16, 2009 12:34 PM | Link to this
Austin Pike interchange? Well - I think not… The people there would not allow it, no wayBy John
July 16, 2009 12:36 PM | Link to this
John P.The horse racing industry ia not asking for a bailout. We just want to be on a level playing field withe surrounding state’s. We race for our money. We are mostly Christian’s to and the Church’s have not won every time. Pennsylvania won all their battles against stiff competition. The last time I went to a race track or a casino it was my choice whether I wanted to go in or not. That would be your choice to. Don’t you care that 16,000 job’s would be saved and 15,000 new job’s would be created?By John
July 16, 2009 12:40 PM | Link to this
I bet the church that passe’s the offering plate around doesn’t ask if your offering came from a race track or a casinoBy Jim
July 16, 2009 1:04 PM | Link to this
The fact that the DDN people continue to have no clue on this subject is mind boggling. This whole blog entry is pure baloney and ignorant. Sometimes I think close-minded people like the writer of this entry want Ohio to fail so they have something to write about.By sandy
July 16, 2009 5:37 PM | Link to this
John i like your thinking. and that was a good point. no body is breaking any bodys hands or forceing them to go and gamble. i just came back from there had a ball lost my a*s.ohio couldve had that moneyBy sandy
July 16, 2009 5:37 PM | Link to this
John i like your thinking. and that was a good point. no body is breaking any bodys hands or forceing them to go and gamble. i just came back from there had a ball lost my a*s.ohio couldve had that moneyBy sandy
July 16, 2009 5:38 PM | Link to this
John i like your thinking. and that was a good point. no body is breaking any bodys hands or forceing them to go and gamble. i just came back from there had a ball lost my a*s.ohio couldve had that moneyBy bluejeans
July 16, 2009 11:10 PM | Link to this
I heard mentioning of slot machines in bowling centers. I am all for that, you wouldn’t have to travel, bringing money into small business.By Tony
July 17, 2009 2:00 AM | Link to this
Ohio should have gambling just like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Indiana. They are taking money from Ohio. Why can’t we at least keep it here if people are going to gamble anyway.By jon
July 17, 2009 2:11 AM | Link to this
How about some Poker tables, blackjack, and roulette. I also would like to have some nice restraunts and buffets. Build a good golf course and I will support that also. I forgot about the concerts and shows. If were going to do this lets not to do it half assed.