Ohio Governor Not in Favor of Instant Racing

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by John Kady

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland said June 12 he would veto any legislation allowing video gambling machines at Ohio racetracks.

Legislation that would allow for Instant Racing machines, which resemble video lottery terminals but are pari-mutuel in nature because the results of games are based on previously run races, has been passed in the Ohio Senate, and supporters said there are enough votes for it to pass the Ohio House of Representatives.

However, Strickland said if the legislation passes he would veto it because Ohioans showed their rejection of gambling machines at racetracks in the last general election when they voted down a proposal to legalize video slot machines at the state’s seven racetracks.

Opponents of the proposal said Instant Racing machines are nothing more than a dressed-up version of video slots. Supporters of the proposal said it would enable racetracks to allow betting on more than 3,000 races run in previous years.

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