How will gambling hypocrites respond?
It is no surprise that the Ohio lottery isn't living up to expectations when it comes to the amount of money being transferred to public education. With surrounding states joining the casino gambling merry-go-round, all roads now lead out of Ohio for individuals with dollars to spend. And as the outflow increases, which it certainly will do once slots machines are up and running in Erie and perhaps Mahoning Township, the Ohio lottery will continue to struggle.
Although sales have improved in recent years, the overall picture, as painted by Gov. Ted Strickland's transition team on the lottery, is not encouraging.
Indeed, under a section titled "Questions to Consider" here is what the team asks: "What can the Ohio lottery do to increase sales and reduce their operational cost?"
And one of the options put forth for the governor to consider is this:
"Do we retreat from a declining market or take a proactive approach to reclaim a market?"
The transition team proposes four areas of inquiry: internal strengths of the Ohio lottery; internal weaknesses; external opportunities for the Ohio lottery, and external threats.
By now, the word hypocrisy should be flashing before your eyes as you read this. Why? Because that's what any discussion about increasing the lottery's revenue amounts to.
'No' vote
It should be recalled that last November, Ohioans went to the polls and declared that they did not want any expansion of gambling. They did so by defeating a constitutional amendment to permit slot machines at the seven horse-racing tracks around the state and two stand alone facilities in downtown Cleveland. It wasn't the first time that a statewide ballot initiative to permit casino-style gambling in Ohio was rejected by the voters.
Indeed, Strickland, as a candidate for governor last year, joined U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich, R-Ohio, and other prominent statewide officeholders in urging the defeat of the constitutional amendment.
They stopped short of calling for a total elimination of gambling in Ohio -- the lottery, horse-racing and bingo are now permitted -- and that prompted several columns in this space about the hypocrisy of those who led the opposition to the issue.
Yet now, Gov. Strickland's transition team is suggesting an expansion of gambling, albeit via the Ohio lottery, to increase profits so more money can be funneled to public education.
A spokesman for the governor was quick to note that Strickland has not embraced the transition team's report, but will be giving it a careful look.
When he does, he certainly won't be doing back flips over some of the ideas put forth for increasing the revenue stream. Here's one that screams irony, in light of voter rejection of slot machines:
"The incoming director should seek an opinion as well as guidance from ... Attorney General Marc Dann on the legality of Video Lottery Terminals."
Or, how about this gimmick for tying the lottery to education: Offer prizes that would appeal to the "younger market," such as plasma TVs, computers and digital media players.
"While lottery profits are targeted solely to primary and second education, offering a game with a top prize that may even offer college tuition at an Ohio college or university might help underscore the lottery's commitment to education," the transition team's report states.
Internet
The team also asks the following: "Can and should a system of playing the lottery via the Internet be utilized? Many young players will not leave the house to purchase a ticket, but may be apt to play if they could do so online."
But the transition team members don't stop there.
How about computerized scratch-off tickets?
"The digital scratch-off could mirror a traditional scratch-off, except players would use a mouse to scratch in place of a coin. If a player wins big on one of these online tickets, they could cash out at a regional lottery retailer."
It is clear that the future of the Ohio lottery under its current formulation is bleak. The transition team's ideas for increasing revenue and profits support such a conclusion.
But given Strickland's opposition to the expansion of gambling in Ohio, don't expect any dramatic action from the governor's office.
Then again, hypocrisy is nothing knew in Ohio when it comes to gambling.