Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland's Gambling Plan: Most Popular In Cincy Area, Least In Cleveland

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Betting in bars on state lottery-operated keno machines is a popular idea in SW Ohio, which is often considered the most conservative section of the state. The Cincinnati-Dayton area turns out to be the only chunk of Ohio that supports Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland's plan to expand legalized gambling. His goal: Raise about $73 million a year in new money for the state budget.

A survey late last month by Quinnipiac University -- which regularly polls Ohioans -- showed 56% of SW Ohioans support keno machines in bars versus 40% opposed. In NE Ohio, 50% were opposed versus 42% who favored Strickland's plan. That 42% was the lowest support recorded in Ohio. There is some irony in that, too -- NE Ohio (Cleveland-Akron-Youngstown-Lorain) is the state's most Democratic region, but it doesn't appear to back Ohio's Democratic governor on the gambling issue. Cincinnati and Dayton are near riverboat casinos that are operating on the Ohio River in Indiana, and residents probably have gotten used to the notion of legalized gambling. The casino commercials regular features on radio, TV and billboards. You can see the poll results about gambling by clicking here and going to the last page.

Keno by the numbers:
Statewide -- 44% support; 49% oppose.
Central Ohio -- 43% support; 48% oppose.
Northeast -- 42% support; 50% oppose.
Northwest -- 44% support; 51% oppose.
Southeast -- 46% support; 48% oppose.
Southwest -- 56% support; 40% oppose.
West Central -- 43% support; 53% oppose.

Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services still has 2003 testimony posted on the state Web site that says gambling is a serious problem for up to 550,000 Ohioans -- which is before keno gets into bars. Here's what legislators were told on Dec. 3, 2003:

"Let's look at what we know from the Ohio Council on Problem Gambling:

• Based on estimates of national prevalence data, 2 1/2 to 5 percent of the adult and teen population of Oho has a gambling problem -- approximately 275,000 to 550,000 people.
• The National Opinion Research Center at University of Chicago puts problem and pathological gambling at 2.7 percent with another 7.7 percent of the population at-risk for developing a problem.
• According to treatment providers, problem/pathological gambling has one of the highest rates of suicide among addictive behaviors -- 48-79 percent of people who seek treatment report having had suicidal thoughts; 12-26 percent actually attempt suicide.
• Average gambling debts of people in treatment are between $38,000 and $113,000.
• 60 percent of problem gamblers are estimated to commit illegal acts to feed their addictions."

Ohio Lotto Outlets Dwindle: Wal-Mart Blamed

CLEVELAND (TDB) -- A new state audit of the Ohio Lottery reveals the gambling monopoly paid schools just 29 cents of every dollar it took in, the lowest percentage of ticket sales used to subsidize education in recent history. The audit also reports the lottery's retail base fell to 8,400 outlets ''down from a peak of 9,800" and blamed Wal-Mart.

But it didn't mention the discount retailer by name. It used a euphemism -- ''national big box retailers" -- to describe the disappearance of Ohio's mom and pop shops.

''Many factors in the national and state economy have a direct impact on revenue generation at the Lottery. As smaller retail outlets close, national big box retailers and bulk consumer product warehouse clubs open in their place. Lottery revenues are negatively impacted by this national and statewide trend because these retailers do not consider lottery products as part of their business model. From 2005 through 2006, the Lottery's retail base hit a low point of 8,400 retailers, down from a peak of 9,800 due in part to this trend," the lottery reports.

Another disturbing number shows up in the lengthy document. Operating expenses were $109.8 million, the highest in the past decade. Payments to education were $646.3 million, up slightly from the previous year. But they were way down from 1997, when $748.5 million was turned over to Ohio's schools.

But the worst trend to show up in the audit is that the percentage of total ticket sales going to education -- the pot of money left after expenses -- has started to erode steadily during this decade. In 1997, 32.5% of the total lottery take went to schools; 33% in 1998; 32.5% in 1999; 31.9% in 2000; 33.2% in 2001; 32% in 2002; 30.9% in 2003; 30.4% in 2004; 29.9% in 2005 and 29.1% last year.

As for the outlets selling tickets, the Lottery said it plans to wage a continuing "struggle to maintain its retailer base. As urban sprawl continues and consumer shopping and spending patterns shift, the Lottery is challenged by how to capitalize in a shifting market environment."