Have you been approved?

In 2002, a bill was written that claimed Ohio racetracks housing more than 2000 electronic slot machines and staying open for business for twenty one hours a day were to be called "mini-casinos". About half the proceeds, round-about $500 million annually would go to public school systems. The remainder of the revenue would be shared among the seven racetracks in Ohio and the communities that house the tracks and also some programs that prevent and treat gambling addiction. House and Senate made it a top priority to have the bill passed seeing it as a perfect solution to Ohio's budget problems and in hopes of helping the state's troubled racing industry compete with tracks in Kentucky and elsewhere. Although, the introduction of the bill did cause a lot of problems through out the state. They brought up the fact that Ohio's Constitution limits gambling to charitable bingo and the lottery. One citizen felt that it was "ridiculous" to offer a bill that would authorize slot machines by putting them under the auspices of the Ohio Lottery Commission. The good thing about the bill is that it called for the lottery commission to approve a menu of games and machines that racetracks would select from. The Senate president says the bill is constitutional.

Personally, since the bill requires certain rules to be followed, I think its a great idea. Since half the revenue would go to public schools, it is even better. What do you think? Do you feel that the bill was constitutional? Do you think it would add to a gambling problem that could already be present?