The game: What’s ‘gambling,’ what isn’t?

Horse racing is DEAD! The patrons are dying off.  Few attend. There are no crowds.


The reputation generated by the horse racing industry of drugging to mask pain, horse injuries and deaths on the tracks does nothing to enhance its reputation.

Folk: It's not coming back! Not without taxpayer subsidies. Why are we subsidizing it when 70% of the horses are Canadian slaughterhouses come from the US?

The game: What’s ‘gambling,’ what isn’t?

Published: Sat, July 21, 2012

COLUMBUS

There was a telling moment at the racing commission this month on the state of legalized gambling in Ohio.

The commission chairman and representatives from Scioto Downs were talking about the new video lottery terminals at the Columbus horse track.

The long-discussed video slots, offered as part of the state lottery, began operating in June. Since then, there’s been an 18 to 20 percent increase in attendance during live racing days, the track’s rep told the racing commission.

“It appears that the operation on the VLT side of the racetrack is being well received and there’s been an overflow,” said commission Chairman Robert Schmitz. “I’ve noticed more people on the racing side than I’ve seen in quite a few years.”

Schmitz asked about actual numbers, to which the track rep began explaining about counting people as they were coming into ... “the casino.”




In other words, this is ANECDOTAL! There are NO NUMBERS! This is sales pitch and scam.
“It is not a casino,” the chairman corrected, prompting laughter and a few knowing looks from others.
Sure it’s not. Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink.

In the truest sense, Schmitz is correct. Horse tracks offering video lottery terminals are not casinos.

There are only four voter-approved casinos in the state. Lawmakers have blocked other locations from using the word “casino” in their signage.

But make no mistake: Many gamblers who frequent these revamped horse racing tracks will find casino-like atmospheres and video slots ready to take their money.

What’s in a name?

Consider the name of the new Youngstown-area track that’s in the works: “Hollywood Slots at Mahoning Valley Race Course.” Notice the slots come first.

Look at Scioto Downs’ website, and you’ll find the title “Scioto Downs Casino and Racetrack.”

Whether they are casinos in name or not, they’re casinos in spirit. And they’re already reaping millions of d ollars in profit for the tracks.

During the first month of operation, gamblers wagered about $122 million on 1,787 VLT terminals at the Columbus-area track, according to lottery officials.

That resulted in about $7.4 million in “racino commissions” for the tracks and $3.7 million for the Ohio Lottery Commission, most of which goes to schools.

To recap: Ohio will have four casinos. Two already open, and a big chunk of the resulting gaming revenues is coming from slot machines.

Close to 700 storefront sweepstakes parlors are operating throughout the state, offering consumers the equivalent of slot machine gambling.

And the state’s seven horse tracks have been given the green light to offer lottery-controlled video slots on their premises.

For average citizens, they’re all casinos — just don’t use that word for racetracks. Because we don’t want to give the impression that Ohio is becoming a gambling-heavy state, with opportunities for residents to throw their money away around every corner.

Marc Kovac is The Vindicator’s Statehouse correpondent. Email him at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog.

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