The Pullins Report - Ohio Governor, Ohio AG Reverse Course on Ohio Gaming
Ohio lobbyists, legislators, media, and interested parties are in shock as Ohio Governor Strickland and Ohio Attorney General Dann reverse course on recent Ohio Gaming initiatives. Both jointly announced today their opposition to so called "skill games" along with a veto threat of horse track replay machines. Veteran statehouse observers believed for some time that Governor Strickland and AG Dann would be more favorably disposed to these initiatives.
Scott Pullins
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
Columbus Dispatch, BREAKING NEWS, Tuesday, June 12, 2007 10:26 AM
Strickland, Dann seek near-total ban on gambling in Ohio
Most skill games would be outlawed
BY JAMES NASH
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Gov. Ted Strickland and Attorney General Marc Dann this morning called on lawmakers to ban nearly all forms of gambling in Ohio, including so-called games of skill that Dann had attempted to legalize.
Strickland said the proliferation of slot machine-like devices runs counter to the will of Ohio voters, who resoundingly defeated a measure last November to allow casino-style gambling at horse tracks and in Cleveland.
“We are concerned that this is a problem for Ohio and that what is happening is contrary to the expressed wishes of Ohio voters by overwhelming numbers,” Strickland said at a news conference.
Last month, Dann moved to legalize and regulate wagering machines that rely primarily on a player's skill. Yesterday, however, he said the manufacturer of the first legal skill game had reneged on its commitment to operate openly and honestly.
Dann and Strickland said they won't attempt to ban existing skill games at businesses like pizza shops and amusement parks. Instead, they said, any game that offers a cash payout or a voucher worth more than $10 should be illegal.
jnash@dispatch.com
From Gongwer's Statehouse Update, Tuesday am, June 12, 2007
GOVERNOR PLEDGES VETO OF VIDEO HORSE RACE REPLAY BILL, WANTS BAN ON CASH PAYOUTS FROM SKILLED GAMES
Gov. Ted Strickland said today he would veto pending legislation that would allow installation of video horse race replay machines at established tracks across Ohio.
Mr. Strickland, accompanied by Attorney General Marc Dann, also asked the General Assembly to quickly prohibit cash payouts to players from what the governor described as “so-called skill games.”
Under the proposal, players could win vouchers for prizes up to $10 in value. Players could win no more than $600 a year in the aggregate. Payouts could not involve tobacco, liquor, firearms, lottery or bingo tickets.
Gov. Strickland said those limits should apply to the propose horse racing replay video devices as well, and said he would veto the Senate-passed legislation.
Mr. Strickland said the race replay devices “seem very similar” to slot machines.
“Without being frivolous about a serious matter, I would just say I was born at night, but not last night,” Gov. Strickland said. “I think this is an obvious attempt to circumvent the will of the people and so we’re taking a position that we think is consistent with what the voters have said regarding the expansion of gambling in this manner.”
PRESS RELEASE
From Governor and AG, for Immediate Release: Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Governor, Attorney General Call for Prohibition of Gaming Devices that Reward Cash
Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Attorney General Marc Dann today called for legislation that will prohibit skill games rewarding cash payouts in Ohio.
“Today, I'm announcing my support for legislation that would ban cash payouts from skill machines,” Strickland said. “Last fall, Ohio voter overwhelmingly rejected expanded gambling in Ohio, but nevertheless we are seeing a proliferation of devices that bear an uncanny resemblance to slot machines. That’s unacceptable. We need to close the loophole that’s allowing this to happen, and we need to honor the people’s will against expanded gambling.”
The Governor and Attorney General are calling for legislation that would prohibit gaming devices from rewarding:
• any cash payouts
• payouts of tickets or vouchers exchangeable for cash
• single play payouts of prizes or vouchers/tickets exchangeable for prizes valued at more than $10
• payouts for aggregated vouchers/tickets exchangeable for prizes valued at more than $600; and
• payouts of tobacco, liquor, drugs, firearms, lottery or bingo entries
Scott Pullins
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
Columbus Dispatch, BREAKING NEWS, Tuesday, June 12, 2007 10:26 AM
Strickland, Dann seek near-total ban on gambling in Ohio
Most skill games would be outlawed
BY JAMES NASH
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Gov. Ted Strickland and Attorney General Marc Dann this morning called on lawmakers to ban nearly all forms of gambling in Ohio, including so-called games of skill that Dann had attempted to legalize.
Strickland said the proliferation of slot machine-like devices runs counter to the will of Ohio voters, who resoundingly defeated a measure last November to allow casino-style gambling at horse tracks and in Cleveland.
“We are concerned that this is a problem for Ohio and that what is happening is contrary to the expressed wishes of Ohio voters by overwhelming numbers,” Strickland said at a news conference.
Last month, Dann moved to legalize and regulate wagering machines that rely primarily on a player's skill. Yesterday, however, he said the manufacturer of the first legal skill game had reneged on its commitment to operate openly and honestly.
Dann and Strickland said they won't attempt to ban existing skill games at businesses like pizza shops and amusement parks. Instead, they said, any game that offers a cash payout or a voucher worth more than $10 should be illegal.
jnash@dispatch.com
From Gongwer's Statehouse Update, Tuesday am, June 12, 2007
GOVERNOR PLEDGES VETO OF VIDEO HORSE RACE REPLAY BILL, WANTS BAN ON CASH PAYOUTS FROM SKILLED GAMES
Gov. Ted Strickland said today he would veto pending legislation that would allow installation of video horse race replay machines at established tracks across Ohio.
Mr. Strickland, accompanied by Attorney General Marc Dann, also asked the General Assembly to quickly prohibit cash payouts to players from what the governor described as “so-called skill games.”
Under the proposal, players could win vouchers for prizes up to $10 in value. Players could win no more than $600 a year in the aggregate. Payouts could not involve tobacco, liquor, firearms, lottery or bingo tickets.
Gov. Strickland said those limits should apply to the propose horse racing replay video devices as well, and said he would veto the Senate-passed legislation.
Mr. Strickland said the race replay devices “seem very similar” to slot machines.
“Without being frivolous about a serious matter, I would just say I was born at night, but not last night,” Gov. Strickland said. “I think this is an obvious attempt to circumvent the will of the people and so we’re taking a position that we think is consistent with what the voters have said regarding the expansion of gambling in this manner.”
PRESS RELEASE
From Governor and AG, for Immediate Release: Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Governor, Attorney General Call for Prohibition of Gaming Devices that Reward Cash
Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Attorney General Marc Dann today called for legislation that will prohibit skill games rewarding cash payouts in Ohio.
“Today, I'm announcing my support for legislation that would ban cash payouts from skill machines,” Strickland said. “Last fall, Ohio voter overwhelmingly rejected expanded gambling in Ohio, but nevertheless we are seeing a proliferation of devices that bear an uncanny resemblance to slot machines. That’s unacceptable. We need to close the loophole that’s allowing this to happen, and we need to honor the people’s will against expanded gambling.”
The Governor and Attorney General are calling for legislation that would prohibit gaming devices from rewarding:
• any cash payouts
• payouts of tickets or vouchers exchangeable for cash
• single play payouts of prizes or vouchers/tickets exchangeable for prizes valued at more than $10
• payouts for aggregated vouchers/tickets exchangeable for prizes valued at more than $600; and
• payouts of tobacco, liquor, drugs, firearms, lottery or bingo entries
Scott, Strickland's position here is not a reversal. Over a year ago, he very clearly stated his contrarian position on gambling: he didn't support Issue 3 but wouldn't have opposed it if Ohioans voted it in. He said that almost verbatim at the Meet the Bloggers debate with Bryan Flannery. The next day, the PD said that he supported gambling but again, several debate attendees raised the flag that unless Strickland told the PD folks something different, that Strickland had said less than 24 hours before that he didn't support Issue 3 but wouldn't oppose what Ohioans wanted.
His move here is completely consistent with that.
Is this a politically motivated position? It has been from the start. But it's not changed.
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