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A proponent of state Issue 3 — a constitutional amendment to bring slot machines to Ohio and use part of the proceeds for scholarships — said it could help stop the drain of gambling dollars and students to other states.

An opponent said putting slot machines at nine Ohio sites will cause immeasurable stress for families and social services as they cope with at least 100,000 new gambling addiction cases.

The two sides appeared Tuesday at an election forum at Sinclair Community College, sponsored by WMUB-FM, public radio at Miami University, and the "Dayton Daily News."

Panelist and gambling opponent David Miller of Citizens for Community Values called it "pure conjecture" that the $1.1 billion spent by Ohioans gambling in other states would stay in Ohio, since Issue 3 involves slot machines, not true casinos.

Consultant Neil Clark, representing Issue 3, said the slot parlors would create 17,000 jobs at the sites; 20,000 construction jobs; and 20,000 to 56,000 "ancillary jobs" in restaurants and other businesses.

He said Issue 3, called Learn & Earn, is "a darn good package compared with no package ... people are desperate. I challenge everyone — if you don't like it, give me a plan."

Issue 3 would allow a total of 31,500 slot machines at Ohio's seven horse race tracks and two other sites in Cleveland. The sites would get 55 percent of the estimated $2.8 billion in annual proceeds.

Most of the rest would be split for public purposes, eventually providing grants equal to the state's average undergraduate tuition to every Ohio graduate attending college in Ohio.

Eight percent of proceeds, an estimated $227 million, would go to economic development, and 1 percent, $28 million, for gambling addiction services.

Miller said gambling should remain illegal since more than 100,000 people will be adversely affected. Clark said the state lost 250,000 jobs in the past 10 years "and who took care of them?"

He said the plan dramatically increases public funding for addiction services. Miller said it wouldn't be enough.