As each day passes, Ohio gets closer to legalizing a type of gambling in the form of electronic games of luck and chance, despite past voter disapproval.

If passed, a bill proposed by Sen. Louis Blessing, R-Cincinnati, will allow video lottery terminals to be installed in Ohio’s seven thoroughbred horse racing tracks without voters’ consent.

Similar bills proposed in 1990 and 1996 associated with gambling and video lottery terminals were defeated by voters.

Blessing previously attempted to add video lottery terminals as part of an amendment to the Ohio Constitution, but horse track owners were unwilling and unable to fund this ballot issue.

However, the recent bill includes an emergency clause that will bypass the need for voters’ approval, instead necessitating a two-thirds approval from the Ohio House and Ohio Senate, and if passed will allow as many as 2,000 terminals at each horse racing track, as reported by local media.

The bill is proposed in hopes to keep up with competition and generate revenue for the state of Ohio. It aims to prevent Ohioans from spending money on gambling in neighboring states such as Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia and New York, all of which allow video lottery terminals or casino gambling.

Jack Hanessian, general manager of River Downs, Cincinnati’s racing track, said he welcomes the idea of video lottery terminals and believes they could positively affect the horse racing industry in Ohio.

“We are very close to the Indiana casino boats and have been impacted severely by the competition. We need to return Ohio money back to Ohio,” Hanessian said.

While agencies such as state police and state justice departments manage and operate video lottery terminals in other states, the Ohio Lottery Commission would be in charge of operation of terminals in Ohio.

The video lottery terminals would have the capabilities to operate games such as poker, blackjack, keno and bingo.

If the bill is passed, funds generated from the video lottery terminals would be shared by the horse racing tracks and Ohio primary and secondary schools. A small percentage of funds will also be given to the Ohio counties where the race tracks are located.

Despite the possible monetary advantages of video lottery terminals, many are opposed to the bill including various religious groups, Gov. Bob Taft and David Zanotti, president of the Ohio Roundtable, a conservative organization involved in a lawsuit against MegaMillions.

David Howell, a senior in mechanical engineering, is among those who are opposed to video lottery terminals for religious reasons. Howell, a Christian, is actively involved in his church in Dayton and believes gambling and video lottery terminals are immoral and would be destructive to the cultural integrity of Ohio.

“Lottery machines lure people into an endless spiral of spending and are potentially psychologically damaging because of the risk of addiction,” Howell said. “Gambling is the devil’s playground.”

Others believe the implementation of video lottery terminals will allow frequent gamblers in Ohio to stay closer to home rather than travel to other states.

Kim Pollak, a senior in Spanish and marketing frequents Ohio’s horse racing tracks and visits gambling facilities in West Virginia and Indiana.

“You can’t keep the gambler from the gambling machine; I’m a good example of that. Ohio might as well bring the machine to the gambler and boost the economy while they’re at it,” said Pollak. “Gambling might be an addiction, but only if you let it become one. If you set limits for yourself, it can be a fun time with your friends and you might even make money in the process.”

The Ohio Senate could pass the bill before the end of 2002.