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Ohio set to drop gambling age from 21 to 18

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August 13, 2009

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The Ohio Lottery Commission is scheduled to meet on Monday to approve new rules concerning expanded gaming at the state�s racetracks, including regulation that will lower the age to gamble at the tracks from 21 to 18. According to reports, only New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and South Dakota currently allow persons to gamble at age 18.

The Ohio racetracks received approval to add slot machines last month via an Executive Order signed by Gov. Ted Strickland. Each site can install up to 2,500 slot machines.

The deadline for tracks to apply for its gaming license is Sept. 15, due with a $100,000 nonrefundable deposit. Also, each track must submit its first license payment of $13 million, with four more equal payments due every other year over the course of 10 years. If a track misses a payment the state can fine the applicant $15 million and $100,000 a day for not meeting the deadline.

Other provisions in the proposed rules by the Lottery Commission include that each site must make $80 million worth of improvements at the track over five years, spending at least $20 million in the first year. Lebanon Raceway officials have already announced that because Warren County officials do not want slots at the fairgrounds they are planning on building a new racetrack located near the I-75 highway between Cincinnati and Dayton.

There are also reports that Harrah�s Entertainment is interested in purchasing Northfield Park, although sources have told harnessracing.com that it would be in a minority-interest role and that track owner Brock Milstein would retain majority interest.

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