Slot Machines are Positive for Area

Originally touted as a forum to discuss table gambling, the discussion ended up focusing on slot machine gambling instead. Even though they ended up focusing on another issue, those who attended the forum said that they thought it was time well spent, and according to State Senator Ed Bowman, “[He] would welcome more of these types of forums.”

The panel assembled included the county commission president, county commissioner, Bowman, and the CEO of Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort, Ted Arneault. There were also members from the college’s Students in Free Enterprise group there, as they sponsored the discussion. The panel was set to discuss table games, which they did, but many in the room wanted to discuss slot machines as well. They wanted to know what effect Issue 3 would have on the state. Issue 3 is the initiative that would legalize slot machines in Ohio.

If slot machines are legalized in Ohio, then West Virginia will now have to compete with them as well as Pennsylvania – who will have their slot machine casinos up and running by the end of the year. A survey was taken of West Virginia residents, and the majority, 64.9%, said that they would approve table gambling if slot machines were made legal in Ohio. If Issue 3 is passed, residents would have the right to vote in slot machines in their area of the state, so some of the state would not be affected by the law if they choose not to be.

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