Critics of Ohio lottery privatization, slots grow

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

A chorus of critics across the political spectrum is rising up against plans by Ohio Republicans to privatize day-to-day operations of the state lottery and expand its reach into slots-like video lottery terminals at horse tracks.

On Friday, the American Policy Roundtable and the Ohio Roundtable condemned an agreement between the state and Rock Ohio Caesars, the operator of planned casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati. The conservative policy groups, which opposed the 2009 constitutional amendment that authorized four casinos in Ohio, said they anticipate multiple lawsuits challenging GOP Gov. John Kasich’s deal with the developer as well as lottery privatization.

A similar deal with Penn National Gaming Inc., the operator of casinos in Columbus and Toledo, was reached Friday afternoon.

“Of course we’re going to litigate,” said David Zanotti, CEO of the American Policy Roundtable, “and so are a bunch of other people. You can rest assured what they’re opening up is a Pandora’s box of lawsuits that is going to go on and on and on — because you can’t go about trying to make fixes the wrong way. You can’t do what they’re trying to do.”

Pointing to the Ohio Constitution and other provisions of state law, the groups say the lottery must be run by a state agency, its proceeds can’t be diverted from education, casino fees can’t be adjusted without a constitutional amendment, the governor doesn’t have the authority to unilaterally authorize VLTs at tracks and a tax on businesses’ commercial activity can’t be applied differently to various businesses or industries.