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According to Commissioner Thomas M. Zaino Ohio racetracks will not have to seek a statewide referendum in order to operate as many as 2,000 slot machines per venue.  Zaino, the former tax commissioner who currently serves on the Ohio Racing Commission, believes no referendum is necessary as long as the state legislature passes a law and either the Ohio Racing Commission or the Ohio Lottery Commission regulates the slot machines. 

Meanwhile there is a plan in the works, backed by Penn National Gaming to get full casinos spinning in Ohio.  The casino plan would require a referendum; signatures are currently being collected to get it on the state ballot in November.

However, both ideas are receiving some resistance, in particular from Governor Ted Strickland.  Amanda Wurst, a spokesperson for Governor Strickland says the governor “opposes both ideas.”

“I can tell you if our economy was robust and growing and we were seeing job development occur without having expanded gambling in Ohio that would be my preference,” said Strickland recently, despite a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall plaguing the state.

“But I am trying to be a realist and understand that the circumstances that we are facing I believe are unprecedented,” continued Strickland. 

Ohio State Representative Tyrone K. Yates does not like the idea of the horse racing industry being so reliant on slot machines, but that does not seem to be possible in todays racing industry.

“I want to see horse racing there as horse racing, rather than see horse tracks turn into areas that are primarily slots,” said Yates.

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