Issue 3 Passage Presents Opportunity
While the November 3 passage of state Issue 3 is a potential blow to Ohio’s racing industry, the Ohio HBPA views it as our best opportunity to date to bring video lottery terminals to Ohio’s tracks.
Issue 3, which passed by a margin of 53% to 47%, authorizes the placement of full scale casinos in pre-specified downtown locations in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo. Obviously, full scale casinos placed within 15-miles of each of our tracks have the potential to greatly damage, if not end thoroughbred racing in the state if the tracks are not given similar expanded gaming opportunities in order to compete for customers.
On the positive side, now that the placement of casinos in Ohio is imminent, the potential to bring expanded gaming to Ohio’s racetracks in the form of video lottery terminals has never been better.
The Ohio HBPA will continue to focus its efforts on lobbying Ohio legislators to level the playing field for Ohio’s horsemen and racetracks. Given that construction of the casinos authorized by the passage of Issue 3 is not expected to be completed until 2012 there is still time to save the state’s racing industry.
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