Ohio Lottery Commission issues rules on slots

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As reported by the Cleveland Plain-Dealer: "Slot machines will spin seven days a week, 24 hours a day at horse-racing tracks with multimillion-dollar makeovers.

"That's the vision Gov. Ted Strickland has for a controversial plan to raise state revenue by allowing tracks to install thousands of video slot machines, according to a set of rules released Wednesday by the Ohio Lottery Commission.

"The rules require the state's seven tracks to each spend $80 million to improve their facilities within the next five years. The rules also offer some detail about how the licensing and oversight of the tracks will work, including the leveling of hefty fines against tracks that don't meet deadlines.

"The rules come as the Strickland administration faces more pressure - from vendors, legislators, track owners and others - to provide details about how the state plans to integrate the slots, known as video lottery terminals, or VLTs, into the Ohio Lottery by May. The lottery commission is expected to vote on the rules on Aug. 17..."