Speaker Proposes Ban on Skill Game Cash Payouts
September 24, 2007

The Cleveland Plain Dealer recently reported that Ohio House of Representatives Speaker John Husted intends to ask his chamber to place a total ban on cash payouts from so-called games of skill. Scott Borgemenke, Husted's chief of staff, notes that the plan will put an immediate halt to the games so that the General Assembly can revisit the issue at a later date.
Representative Bill Seitz disagrees with the plan. The Cincinnati legislator is proposing a regulatory scheme to license, regulate and tax the machines.

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Skill Game Purveyors Win Injunctions
September 24, 2007

Early this month Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook issued an order that prohibited the Attorney General from enforcing a ban on the "Nudgemaster" game. The device is one of many "skill games" that the General Assembly is currently trying to prohibit in Ohio. Since then, two more games, Tic-Tac-Fruit and Puzzlebug have been granted special dispensation to operate despite Attorney General Marc Dann's administrative rules prohibiting cash payments from the devices.

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Tracks Install Skill Games
September 24, 2007

Several racetracks in Ohio have opted to install controversial "skill games" at their facilities this month. A recent article in the Cincinnati Post claims that Columbus-based Beulah Park has installed at least ten of the devices, and that River Downs in Southern Ohio has plans to do the same. Michael Weiss, Executive Vice-President of Beulah Park claims that the machines have been installed in several locations around the racetrack. "[W]e thought we should be able to provide the same game for our customers as our competition.," Weiss said.

The Post reports that horse race wagering is down over thirty percent in Ohio over the past five years, and that owners are racing their horses in other states where slots and other gambling has created more lucrative purses.

Raceway Park, however, has decided to avoid the machines. "Penn National, our parent company, is publicly traded and does not want to be involved while legislation is pending. It's very controversial," said John McNamara, an employee with Raceway's customer service and marketing division. Raceway is currently experiencing a surge in wagering activity over last year's numbers. McNamara attributes the increase to renovations to the track's and new programs to offer additional entertainment along with traditional horse racing.

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