Slot Machines Just One Problem for Ohio
 

This past November election hurt the Ohio racing industry badly. They were hoping that slot machines would be legalized in the state, but voters voted not to. The horse tracks are fearful that without the slot machine revenue, they are not sure how much longer they will be able to remain open.

However, this wasn’t all that was on their minds at their monthly meeting. They were trying to agree on a racing calendar for 2007 at the Ohio State Racing Commission’s monthly meeting. There is talk of possibly shortening the racing calendar to only 100 or so races so as to help with the purse sizes. Without the slot machine revenue, they cannot offer as large of purses as they had wanted to, and thus may need to cut back on dates. If the slot machine measure had passed, the tracks would have been in a much better position.

It is hard for the tracks, for they really needed the slot machine measure to pass, especially since some of them truly will not be able to stay open without the additional income. They also put out about $20 million to get the slot machine measure passed, money that would have helped elsewhere this season. The slot machine revenue would also have kept the better horses in the state, but they are leaving to go to greener pastures now.

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