Ohio Church Groups Say They Will Try To Block Newly Authorized Slot Machines

After a long political battle, the Ohio legislature on Monday passed a balanced budget (H.B. 1) by authorizing the Governor to permit installation of slot machines (video lottery terminals "VLTs") at Ohio's seven race tracks. The slots are projected to bring in $933 million in revenue to the state. (Columbus Dispatch). Gov. Ted Strickland, an ordained Methodist minister, is expected to sign the bill. However, according to a Columbus Dispatch report yesterday, groups such as the Ohio Council of Churches and the anti-gambling task force of the United Methodist Church [background] say they will take legal action and launch a grass-roots campaign, to prevent moving ahead with the VLTs. They want the state to instead raise taxes to more directly fund the state's budget deficit. They say that the VLT's violate Art. 15, Sec. 6 of the Ohio Constitution that allows only the state lottery whose funds are to be used to support education. The Dispatch yesterday also published a Q&A setting out the official position on the legality of the slot machine plan and details of its proposed operation.