Ohio Lawmakers Pass Racetrack Slots Bill

In a flurry of activity June 28 both houses of the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation allowing racetracks to apply for video lottery terminal licenses.

The VLT provisions were attached to a racetrack relocation bill approved by the state Senate by a 27-6 vote. The House then concurred by a vote of 64-32, sending the measure to Republican Gov. John Kasich for his signature.

The Kasich administration authored the racetrack VLT and related casino tax provisions in an agreement with developers of full-scale casinos, so the governor is expected to sign the legislation. Before the legislature took action, the VLT language was only an administrative directive.

At least one public policy group has threatened a lawsuit on the grounds racetrack VLTs, like full-scale casinos, must be approved via statewide referendum.