The Ohio Learn and Earn Committee announced Tuesday that they have gathered 624,625 signatures on their petitions to bring slot machines into Ohio. They are expected to deliver the signatures to Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell’s Office this week.  

The amendment, if passed, will allow slot machines to come into Ohio – there will be 3,000 slot machines at each of the state’s seven racetracks, and two gaming parlors in downtown Cleveland. The proposal earlier had wanted slot machines in Cincinnati as well, but that part of the proposal was removed. Thirty percent of the projects $2 billion in revenue is slated to go for educational scholarships, with students being able to use the money for any public or private Ohio institution.  

There is also an estimated $230 million slated for state and county economic development as well. Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro approved the petition in May, after a change in language was required to clear up the idea that the slot machine “casinos” would be open 24 hours. He felt the language was unclear and misleading to the voters. Once corrected, the proposals were approved and signatures were able to be collected.

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