Gambling News by Gambling Headquarters

The campaign behind a proposal to expand gambling in Ohio submitted enough valid signatures in its second attempt to get the initiative on the November ballot, state elections officials said Tuesday. The group, which is promoting a plan to put slot machines at Ohio's seven horse racetracks and two freestanding sites in downtown Cleveland, failed in its initial attempt last month, submitting 8,716 fewer signatures than the 322,899 required. Given 10 days to make up the difference, the campaign, called Learn and Earn, turned in 26,081 valid signatures, said James Lee, spokesman for the Ohio Secretary of State's office. The plan, backed by a group of racetrack owners and casino developers, would set aside about 30 percent of annual gambling profits - $852 million a year - for college tuition grants, the group says. "People of Ohio are excited about this issue, and we're excited that they will have the opportunity to vote on this," said Robin Hepler, spokeswoman with Learn and Earn. Opponents argue the ballot issue aims to change the state constitution to benefit a select group of businessmen. They also predict that the slot machines will create more gambling addiction problems.

"We vow to fight it," said David Zanotti president of the Ohio Roundtable, a public advocacy group that successfully fought previous gambling proposals. He is co-chairman of the Vote No Casinos Committee.