Gambling News by Gambling Headquarters

For the third time in 16 years, Ohioans soundly rejected the expansion of gambling in Ohio, this time routing a racetrack-backed proposal to put slot machines at the tracks. Voters also approved a ban on smoking in most public buildings and rejected a tobacco-backed ban that would have exempted bars, enclosed parts of restaurants and certain sporting venues. An increase in the state's minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $6.85 passed. Issue 3, the slots issue, was behind 1,611,700, or 58.30 percent, to 1,167,654, or 41.70 percent, with 98.21 percent of precincts reporting. Sen. George Voinovich, who successfully fought casino ballot issues in 1990 and 1996, said Ohioans realized that the slots backers who were selling the issue as a scholarship program would be its prime beneficiaries. "The people of Ohio saw through the sham and were not fooled," Voinovich said. The successful Issue 5 bans smoking in all buildings outside the home, except for tobacco shops, designated hotel rooms and enclosed areas in nursing homes. Issue 4 would have exempted bars, race tracks, bowling alleys and bingo halls from a ban. It was opposed by 64.28 percent and supported by 35.72 percent. Issue 2, one of six minimum wage issues around the country, was supported 56.17 percent to 43.83 percent. "Issue 4 was an attempt to protect big tobacco's bottom line," said Tracy Sabetta, co-chair of SmokeFreeOhio, the American Cancer Society-backed group that promoted Issue 5. "We know we will see an improvement in the health of bartenders and others in the hospitality industry." Smoke Less Ohio, the group largely financed by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and some restaurant and bar owners, said it accepted the vote. "The voters had an opportunity, through comprehensive campaigns on both sides of the issue, to educate themselves, form an opinion and then vote. That is the purpose of allowing initiatives and we respect that process and the outcome," spokesman Jacob Evans said. The gambling proposal, state Issue 3, would have allowed up to 31,000 slot machines at Ohio's seven horse-racing tracks and two free-standing parlors in downtown Cleveland. A portion of the revenue would go to eligible public school students attending in-state colleges and universities. It was the third proposal since 1990 to expand gambling in Ohio, where only the lottery and games for charity such as bingo are state-sanctioned.

State Issue 5 would ban smoking in most public buildings, while Issue 4 would exempt places including bars, bowling alleys, bingo halls and racetracks.

Except Issue 5, the proposals would amend the Ohio Constitution. If voters pass both smoking issues, the less restrictive one would prevail because it would be an amendment instead of a change in state law. Issue 4 also would eliminate 21 local smoking bans.

The racetrack owners and developers who would claim 55 percent of the slots revenues raised at least $13 million in the campaign and promoted the 30 percent that would be committed to college scholarships.

Opponents said the ad campaign inflated the amount going to scholarships and that passage would harm families of people who become gambling addicts.

Voters in 1990 and 1996 overwhelmingly defeated issues that would have allowed casinos.

The competing smoking issues pitted health groups such as the American Cancer Society against tobacco companies and bar and restaurant owners.

Backers of the minimum wage amendment, including labor unions and advocates for low-income people, said the wage at $5.15 was too low. Opponents _ business groups and low-wage employers _ said an increase would hurt small businesses and drive many retailers from Ohio.

Backers trying to get a proposed issue to change workers' compensation law certified for the ballot ran out of time, so votes cast for Issue 1 were not being counted