Ohio VLT's (Slots) Challenged in Court

The question of whether Ohio Governor Ted Strickland’s executive order authorizing the Ohio Lottery to install video lottery terminals (VLTs) at the state’s racetracks has landed -- as expected -- in the Ohio Supreme Court. And another proposal to legalize full-service casinos, sponsored in part by Penn National Gaming, owner of Toledo Raceway Park, will be on this coming November’s Ohio ballot.

An organization calling itself letohiovote.org has filed papers in the state’s highest court, seeking a ruling that Strickland overstepped his legal bounds by authorizing VLTs at the tracks. The group has also said it will spend up to $2.5 million to gather signatures to put the issue on the November 2010 state ballot.

Another anti-gambling group, the Ohio Roundtable, a church-based group, has promised to file a lawsuit, but has not done so as of yet.

On another Buckeye gaming front, Ohio Attorney General Jennifer Brunner has ruled that more than the necessary 402,275 valid signatures have been submitted by Penn National and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who seek to build full-service casinos in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo, and that the question will appear on the November ballot this year.

For the complete story, please see John Pawlak, Ohio VLTs challenged in court; casino vote to go forward, U.S. Trotting Association, July 22, 2009.