By RICHARD LAVIGNE

December 6, 2009 9:55 AM | Link to this

Hi, Did you know that in my Québec, we have no more horse racing and that the government sold the four racetracks? My family is from Terrebonne, Québec, where in 1837, we had a race for a purse of $5,000. Why such a tragedy? In Quebec, we had from 1980, the gey market of video poker across the province. In 1992, in a study for a video poker manufacturer, we had more than 62,000 machines. In 1994, the government took control of the market in replacing the mafia. We proposed to copy the european success and countries outside America. No way, the video polers manufacturers were to rich. Now, no more races because the video pokers took our pari mutuel market. No more pari mutuel means no more horse racing. If interested to receive the 1980-2000 stats for Quebec, I will happy to send you the proof that video pokers kill our industry.

By JRK

December 5, 2009 6:03 PM | Link to this

It was Strickland and the Racetracks that were opponents of allowing casinos into Ohio because it would hurt their business. It was those two parties who put out the misleading and fear-mongoring statements against casinos. Now that they lost, casinos are okay (as long as they are at the track). They want their cake and they want to eat it to. Its not going to get my vote. Sorry.

By bergm6278

December 5, 2009 11:48 AM | Link to this

How many times are we going to have to go back to the polls to vote ‘yes’ to allowing another type of gambling? We voted that we do want the casinos, we already have the Ohio Lottery, there is a bingo hall on every corner, so why do they continue to nitpick at every single item? I mean, its already a racetrack, which means gambling, so why do we need to vote on the slots? Let them put them in…if you want to use them, you will. If you don’t, you won’t.

By Mike

December 4, 2009 9:48 PM | Link to this

OMG can we get a ballot issue that outlaws gambling issues? Jesus, voting in Ohio is like Groundhog Day around here.

By Jim

December 4, 2009 9:36 PM | Link to this

JJ, The problem is isn’t the lottery, but rather school funding in general. The Ohio Supreme Court (all republican) ruled years ago (mid to early nineties) that the funding for Ohio schools was unconstitutional, but they refuse to enforce their own ruling. It’s pathetic. Taft did nothing, and while Strickland is trying, his hands are tied by the recession. I suggest you research the entire broken process before drawing conclusions.

By Rich J

December 4, 2009 9:29 PM | Link to this

“Follow the Money”. It works every time. “Ohio Supreme Court Refuses to force group to disclose who their donors are.” However an anti slots group spokesperson does not deny money has come in from out of state gambling interests to their “cause” To all of you who signed the petition in a retail parking lot as I was approached to do on the basis that the Governor was some how denying us some important right to vote on this issue, I say… “First Follow the Money”, then decide if what you were asked to sign is in your own best interest and the best interest of Ohio. Folks you have just been “Swift Boated” into placing an item on the ballot which will in and of itself cost Ohio money. In the end big out of state corporate interests may be a huge winner by depriving Ohio of a legitimate revenue steam. Go to the web site of The Columbus Dispatch and look up: BATTLE TO REVEAL DONORS… Anti-slots group logs victory in high court Saturday, August 8, 2009 3:01 AM Now decide how you will vote on this ballot proposition.

By Jim

December 4, 2009 9:27 PM | Link to this

If we’re going to have full blown casinos, then we should have slots at the racetracks too. It will interesting to see what type of propaganda the casinos come up with to try to foil the racetrack slots.

By JJ

December 4, 2009 7:44 PM | Link to this

If this fails, Then we should get rid of ALL the Ohio lottery’s. They aren’t Supporting the schools as they are supposed to. Look at all the school levies on the ballot each election day. And they are failing cause the tax payers are way over taxed already and can’t afford anymore. IF the Lottery was helping the schools as it’s supposed to do. Then there would be no need for levies. Who’s geting all that Money? the schools aren’t, the the state claims the’re going broke. Where is the money going? Must be our elected officals. I don’t know. But I sure would like to.

By slots

December 4, 2009 6:39 PM | Link to this

The small town of Lawrenceburg, In. has a budget surplus of 250 million dollars, one casino.