Gambling machines staying out of Ohio

Forbes.com on Governor Strickland’s promise to veto gambling machines:

A proposal to allow a new type of electronic betting at horse racetracks died Tuesday after Gov. Ted Strickland promised to veto it and take other steps to halt what he sees as expanded gambling in the state.

Strickland threatened the veto during a news conference with Attorney General Marc Dann where the two Democrats called for a ban on cash prizes from new gaming machines springing up around the state….

Upon hearing the governor’s promise to veto instant-racing terminals at horse tracks, Republican House Speaker Jon Husted said the proposal won’t pass the House.

“The issue is dead,” spokeswoman Karen Tabor said.

That’s via Writes Like She Talks, who thinks it’s pretty wise to follow voters’ wishes on the issue. See also Conservative Culture, who thinks Strickland is acting like a social conservative, at least on this.

Scott Pullins thinks Strickland is merely triangulating, and doing it rather well:

Today, Strickland and Dann did it again. Ohio voters have three times rejected efforts to expand gambling in Ohio, most recently a proposal last fall to allow slot machines at Ohio horsetracks. This spring Ohio Senate Republicans passed legislation to allow slot like devices at Ohio racetracks and the House was poised to pass it too. Strickland had promised not to veto the language.

This morning Governor Strickland and Attorney General Dann reversed course and announced their support for legislation to ban prizes from gaming machines, including so called “skill games”. At the same time, Strickland stated that voters have spoken and threatened to veto the slots like Senate bill.

Again, here’s the visual. Strickland and Dann stand with voters, while Republicans stand with lobbyists and special interests.

I think the debate over skilled vs. non-skilled gambling machines (I won’t say gaming) got pretty seedy and the governor saw some advantage in ending it.