Ohio Resists Move to Slot Machines

While states across the US are jockeying for more slot machines, one state seems to be content to allow it all to go on around them, without getting involved. It seems that Ohioans love to gamble, and they love to play slot machines. However, the Ohio legislature, and the people themselves, have decided they would rather leave town to do it.

Pennsylvania is just one state that is profiting from Ohio’s lack of slot machines. At Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Northern PA they say that 60-65% of their patrons come over the border from Ohio. They say that they love the fact that Ohio isn’t getting into the slot machine game as they would lose more than half of their revenue.

Yet time and time again, Ohioans have voted down measures that would make slot machines legal in the state. But experts say that the powers that be are feeling more and more pressure to get into the slot machine game, if for no other reason than Ohioans are spending nearly one billion dollars a year at neighboring casinos according to the Greater Cleveland Partnership study.

This is obviously money that would serve the state well if it were keeping it, but for all their gambling residents say no to slot machines. Instead they are spending it in Indiana, Michigan and West Virginia. They don’t even have the figures yet for what additional monies will be spent in Pennsylvania. If Kentucky brings in slot machines as well, as they are discussing, then the state will be completely surrounded by slot machines and their residents will have no problems at all hopping the border to pay.

 

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