The Ohio Learn and Earn Committee has come under fire recently for allegedly “conning” residents into signing petitions that would bring slot machine gambling into the state of Ohio. The committee is supported by racetracks across the state, and their proposal is a plan to use the slot machines to fund scholarships to top performing high school seniors.  The proposal would not only bring in the slot machines, but it would also authorize the building of two freestanding slot parlors in Cleveland. After four years, voters in Cuyahoga County could then authorize other casino games at the parlors and at Thistledown and Northfield, two racetracks within the county.

The idea is that the tracks and the slot machine parlor developers split the slot machine revenue with the scholarship funds, 61% for them and 30% to scholarships. The rest would go to gambling addiction programs and the local governments. Gambling of some kind is permitted in Ohio, as long as it is the state lottery, or charitable games such as bingo. This is not the first time proponents of gambling have tried to bring slot machines into the state. Similar measures were defeated in 1990 and 1996.

The reason so many are up in arms this time, is the reports from citizens that they are being approached by canvassers who are misrepresenting what the petition is about, and that it is being signed by uneducated voters. Opponents claim that the slot machine initiative is only gaining signatures by lying about the slot machine involvement. Ohio law specifically states that “no person shall misrepresent the contents, purpose, or effect of the petition or declaration for the purpose of persuading a person to sign or refrain from signing the petition or declaration,” and if found guilty of the first-degree misdemeanor, the violator could face up to six months in jail.

The proponents of the slot machine initiative are gearing up for a multi-million dollar media blitz, and the opponents really cannot afford to match the amount. Religious leaders are calling on the state for assistance, as they know there is a good chance it may end up on the ballot by these alleged immoral and illegal means. Backers of the issue have already raised and spent $1.5 million on the campaign.  Supporters include track owners and the Cleveland developers who will build the two freestanding slot machine parlors. They have until August 9^th to submit the necessary 322,899 signatures to get on the ballot. That number is come to by taking 10% of the total vote for governor in the 2002 election.

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