The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

No computer slots at Lebanon Raceway

Photos: Lebanon Raceway photos

Edgewood to close elementary school
12:06 a.m.
Bills aimed as shrinking government stirring controversy
10:04 p.m.
Boehner says ‘barriers’ stall growth
10:02 p.m.
County issues fewer new vendor licenses
9:44 p.m.
Franklin council considering EMS changes
9:42 p.m.
> More headlines

By Lawrence Budd, Staff Writer Updated 7:26 AM Tuesday, November 17, 2009

LEBANON — Lebanon Raceway is staying pat despite installation of video slot machines at a Columbus horse track.

“We don’t have those. At this point we don’t have any plans to install them,” Keith Nixon Jr., general manager at the harness track and simulcast center in Lebanon, said on Monday, Nov. 16.

Gamblers are playing 30 computerized “Sweepstakes” machines at Beulah Park in Grove City, south of Columbus.

Owner Charles Ruma says it’s a move to help stay in business.

The machines, also in use at a Columbus cafe according to a report in the Columbus Dispatch, were installed after voters approved casinos in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo in the Nov. 3 election.

Still, Nixon said none of the gaming machines would be installed in Lebanon while efforts continued to collect signatures forcing a referendum on Gov. Ted Strickland’s order legalizing video slot machines at Ohio tracks.

Nixon also said the Lebanon track was watching for legal action to determine whether Strickland’s order should stand, allowing installation of the video slots at Ohio tracks under oversight by the Ohio Lottery Commission.

“We’ll have to wait and see how everything shakes out,” Nixon said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2261 or lbudd@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Share this article