Cities didn't ask to be part of plan

Some officials said they weren't concerned about a lack of gambling revenue.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Several city leaders say they've never asked state lawmakers trying to place slot machines at Ohio's seven racetracks to cut them in on the action.
Among the options being considered for the latest video gambling proposal is allowing electronic slots and similar games at off-track betting facilities allowed under state law, lawmakers working on the plan said Thursday.
On Wednesday, House Speaker Larry Householder floated the idea of allowing cities to vote on freestanding casinos as a tradeoff for urban areas that might not benefit from the racetrack slots plan. It was not immediately clear if he meant off-track betting or full-blown casinos with table games such as blackjack.
Several city officials said Thursday that a lack of gambling revenue wasn't among their immediate concerns.
"We've never asked for anything; we've never looked at it," said Mike Brown, spokesman for Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman. "We're concerned with economic development in the real world, in our neighborhoods."
Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell said the city won't study the issue until such a law passes, spokesman David Fisk said.
Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken welcomed the idea Wednesday . But his city already has River Downs, which would benefit from the racetrack-only proposal being developed by a bipartisan group of eight lawmakers and racetrack and gambling machine lobbyists.
One version
In the version crafted late Wednesday, half of the state's take from the games would go to scholarships, 20 percent to preschool education and 30 percent as block grants to public school districts, lawmakers in the group said.
A two-thirds majority is required to put the question on the ballot, and some Republican conservatives are against gambling. Rep. Chris Redfern, the top Democrat in the House, said he has enough votes to overcome the difference.
Gov. Bob Taft has said he opposes any expansion of gambling, but his approval isn't needed to put the issue on the ballot.
Redfern, from Port Clinton, and Rep. Bill Seitz, a Republican from Cincinnati, said the group also would consider allowing the video slots at off-track betting facilities.
Only Sandusky and Mansfield have off-track betting now. The tracks that must sponsor the facilities, however, has found them to be unprofitable. Messages seeking comment were left with both cities Thursday.
Allowing slots would make the centers a better business -- but likely would sink the ballot issue, supporters said.
"My off-the-cuff guess is it would never fly," said Charles Ruma, owner of Beulah Park in suburban Columbus. He said he would wait for a poll on the issue, which lobbyist Neil Clark said likely would be done early next week.
Many Ohioans gamble anyway, but they're traveling to neighboring states to do so, lawmakers said.
Keeping it in the state
"It didn't make sense to let huge amounts of dollars to keep leaving the state," said Redfern, whose northern Ohio district includes Lake Erie tourist spots he said might want to draw the gamblers now going to Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
Mayors of some cities along the state line say they'd like to see that money stay home, but they want more information.
"This is one that would require a great deal of public conversation," Marietta Mayor Michael Mullen said.
Whatever lobbyists and lawmakers come up with, the Ohio Roundtable is ready to mount an antigambling campaign. The advocacy group has helped defeat two previous ballot measures.
Other states would respond to slots in Ohio by adding table games or increasing the odds of winning to draw gamblers back, eventually eroding Ohio's take unless it escalates too, said David Zanotti, Roundtable president.
"What are they going to do, put up a border guard to keep Ohio gamblers in?" he said. "They'll be forced to create new gamblers and in essence new hard-core addicted gamblers."
The bill on spending the proceeds would dedicate money to treating problem gambling, Seitz said.