Ohio Slowly Coming Around to Alternative Gaming

[ALostTexan]

Story

Finally, Ohio horseman might begin to get a little help from alternative gaming at the 7 racetracks in the state. Last year, after a $21 million+ campaign, Ohioans voted against allowing video lottery terminals (VLT's) at the racetracks, forcing an even harder competition against tracks in most of the surrounding states.

Currently, there is a fight in the Ohio legislature to allow Instant Gaming Machines, which have proven very profitable in Arkansas, a decision that Gov. Ted Strickland has already said he will veto.

But now, several tracks have began to install "games of skill and competition", which are basically slot machines. Beulah and River Downs have installed them, while other tracks, like Northfield, are waiting to see what happens.

Hopefully the law will be interpreted to help the Ohio tracks, as competing against West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and casinos in Michigan sets a very unlevel playing field for the Ohio tracks.

I guess we will wait and see what happens...