Penn National Gaming Preventing Slots/Casinos In Ohio - Horse Racing Forum - PaceAdvantage.Com

Nmytwenties · 12-13-2008, 05:19 PM

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...WS01/812130337

I didn't think this guy from Las Vegas who tried to establish a resort casino would have benefited the state and certainly not racing the way slots at the tracks would but this is the writing on the wall that Penn National Gaming, who owns several race tracks, is perfectly ok with putting other thoroughbred tracks out of business if it means more money for their casinos. So much for ever having a united front on the part of tracks, how do you unite on the basis of racing issues with the likes of Penn National Gaming when they couldn't give a damn about their casino/non racing business interests in other locations helping to put tracks there out of business. Just seems kinda backwards to me with regard to the interests of the sport of racing, I guess little is sacred when it comes to profits from the one armed bandits.

I know most on this board don't have to be told that these tracks that have been transformed into racinos see racing as a secondary type thing, but I think it is something that should be addressed by organizations like the NTRA. It shows you how far away any type of national union of tracks or states for the purposes of phasing out drugs and other problems is. You have tracks with casinos in other states actively owning and promoting casinos that are driving tracks out of business, why would these suffering tracks or states want to unite with these people on any issues.

Wonder what the horsemen in Pennsylvania would have to say about this, they seem to be united on other issues nationwide. While Penn National spends millions to prevent slots in Ohio which would help purses for the horseman there, the horsemen and product in Ohio goes in the tank, while Penn horseman see the benefits big time.

startngate · 12-14-2008, 10:07 AM

The writer of this story isn't telling the entire story, and you are not interpreting the situation in Ohio correctly.

It wasn't just about Penn National protecting their Indiana riverboat and/or their track in PA. They also own one of the tracks in Ohio (Raceway Park in Toledo), and did not want a casino initiative passed that did not include having one at their track. Also, Issue 6 had no provisions for funnelling money to horsemen's purses. Hard to blame them for fighting against this Ohio proposition.

I'm sure if the next vote comes with a proposal they can participate in, they will be in favor of it.

JustRalph · 12-14-2008, 09:07 PM

The people of Ohio aren't smart enough to have casinos

they aren't smart enough to know when outside interests are controlling them

they have had their bite at the apple many times already and they blew it

startngate · 12-14-2008, 09:11 PM

I won't argue that point ....

tcasolo · 12-14-2008, 09:45 PM

Sorry, but that issue for the Ohio casino was HORRIBLE. I would love to see casinos in Ohio, but to pass law to allow a casino that would eventually have to pay ZERO taxes to the state, and ZERO to the racing industry, is wrong.

I thank Argosy for getting involved. I know they were protecting their interests, however, without their backing, the public would never had known the truth about how bad this issue was for the state.

We will get casinos in Ohio, we are just not the fools that you say we are.

Zman179 · 12-14-2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcasolo

Sorry, but that issue for the Ohio casino was HORRIBLE. I would love to see casinos in Ohio, but to pass law to allow a casino that would eventually have to pay ZERO taxes to the state, and ZERO to the racing industry, is wrong.

I thank Argosy for getting involved. I know they were protecting their interests, however, without their backing, the public would never had known the truth about how bad this issue was for the state.

We will get casinos in Ohio, we are just not the fools that you say we are.

Zero in taxes I am 100% against. Zero to the racing industry I am 100% in approval of, regardless of the state. We would be better off taking all these "welfare" monies away from the horsemen and steering it towards property tax relief, school tax relief and eliminating the sales tax. Horsemen genuinely do not deserve it.

JustRalph · 12-15-2008, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcasolo

Sorry, but that issue for the Ohio casino was HORRIBLE. I would love to see casinos in Ohio, but to pass law to allow a casino that would eventually have to pay ZERO taxes to the state, and ZERO to the racing industry, is wrong.

I thank Argosy for getting involved. I know they were protecting their interests, however, without their backing, the public would never had known the truth about how bad this issue was for the state.

We will get casinos in Ohio, we are just not the fools that you say we are.

The only way they would pay zero taxes is if Ohio allowed an Indian Casino to setup. This would ensure that no other casino in the state would have an unfair advantage............... I didn't see a problem with that. I also find from what I read, there are no locations in Ohio that would qualify as "indian land" for a casino. So I think it was a bullshit issue............

MikeDee · 12-15-2008, 09:31 AM

The gambling bill as proposed was a bad bill. It would have failed without any opposition from Penn National. I voted against it and I'm pro gambling.

Ohio is an anti-gambling state. The voters of this state have turned down numerous gambling proposals. I don't believe this will change any time soon no matter how well thought out any future gambling proposal is written.

rastajenk · 12-15-2008, 10:32 AM

The state put Keno into several thousand bars and restaurants without going to the people for approval. I've always wondered why casinos and/or slots-at-tracks issues have to be in the form of a constitutional amendment with direct appeal to the voters; seems like the legislature could do something progressive if they wanted to .

startngate · 12-15-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeDee

The gambling bill as proposed was a bad bill. It would have failed without any opposition from Penn National. I voted against it and I'm pro gambling.

Agreed. I almost voted for it because I thought it would be more likely for the tracks to get slots if a casino bill was passed. The negatives of the proposition were just too bad for me to be able to support it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeDee

Ohio is an anti-gambling state.

Actually, no it's not.

If you go to any of the IN riverboats or over to MNR and CT you will see the parking lots filled with a majority of Ohio license plates. There are bingo parlors everywhere, a large State lottery and now even Keno in bars and restaurants.

Ohioans love to gamble, despite them voting down casino initiatives.

IMO it will take Kentucky passing something to get Ohio to move. Either that, or a Governor that doesn't oppose it as much as the last two have.

MikeDee · 12-15-2008, 11:05 AM

Of course there are thousands of people in Ohio that gamble and go to out of state casinos, I'm one of them. Still doesn't change the fact that a majority of voters in the state of Ohio oppose gambling.

The governor with the approval of the legislature added Keno under the existing law that permits a state run a lottery for schools.

Gambling for the good of schools, charities, and churches, has always been good gambling and allowed. It is only gambling for fun and profit that is bad for us and we must be protected from it.

The govenor and a majority of both state houses oppose gambling, so a bill to permit gambling has zero chance of passage. Thst's why they are always putting a gambling amendent on the ballot.

There will be another one on the ballot next year and it to will fail, like all of the others before it.

tcasolo · 12-15-2008, 11:55 AM

I think people are warming up to the idea of casinos. It's just that the last issue only placed one in the entire state, and then supposedly forbid any others from opening. I, for one, refused to vote for it.

I agree that the gov will never back a casino, and that is why backers have gone the amendment route.

Ohioans have hope that the next issue will be written better, offer casinos for multiple cities (people in Youngstown would LOVE a casino downtown, because they have tried everything else and still cannot get people downtown).

Currently Governor Strickland is facing huge budget cuts to even come close to balancing his budget. It certainly doesn't help that the lottery commission just released the pathetic results from his "budget saving" Keno game. For the first 4 months the game is generating only 1/3 of the projected revenue. The profits were supposed to go directly to balance his budget.

I took Maryland many tries to get slots on the ballet, and they finally realized that there was no other logical place to get the added funding. Once it went to vote, it passed by a landslide.