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Ohio governor John Kasich was late getting into the race for the Republican nomination for President of the United States, but he's already one of the leaders in the polls.
Add to that the fact that he's governor of a state that's key for the Republicans--no Republican in the history of the U.S. has ever been elected President without winning Ohio--and you realize that Kasich winning the Presidency is a real possibility.
So what would a President Kasich mean for gambling in America?
Would he embrace it, reject it or be neutral?
One only needs to examine his record as governor of Ohio to see that he's extremely pro-gambling and is currently involved in a huge controversy in the Buckeye State because of it.
The saga began in 2009, the year before Kasich, now 63, was elected governor.
Here's the timeline:
In 2009, voters in Ohio approve a referendum that amends the state constitution to legalize casino gambling. Casinos are authorized for four Ohio cities: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo.
In 2010, Kasich, a former U.S. congressman representing Columbus, is elected governor of Ohio.
In 2011, Kasich, without voter or legislative approval, issues an executive order expanding gambling in the state. Under the order, video lottery terminals, called VLTs, will be allowed at the state's seven horse racing tracks. VLTs are simply electronic slot machines--playing symbols such as bells or pieces of fruit appear on video instead of traditional reels, and the game or denomination can be changed at the push of a button. Each track will have to pay the state $50 million for a VLT license and the state will get one-third of all VLT profits. The racetracks become known as "racinos," a combination of the words "racetrack" and "casino."
In 2012, an anti-gambling group called the Ohio Roundtable, consisting of a group of Toledo businessmen and others, sues Kasich, claiming his expansion of gambling in the state via VLTs at tracks is a violation of the state constitution, because voter approval is needed for any expansion of gambling.
In 2014, Kasich is re-elected governor of Ohio, and the lawsuit against him continues to make its way through the state court system.
In 2015, it is revealed that as of the end of the May, a total of about $700 million has been earned by the seven racinos from VLTs since the machines were installed. The State of Ohio got about $235 million of that, in addition to the $350 million it previously collected in VLT licensing fees. Most of the $785 million total Ohio got via VLT licenses and taxes is going towards schools and education. In June, the lawsuit vs. Kasich reaches the Ohio Supreme Court, and a ruling is expected later this year.
So what does this all mean?
Obviously, Kasich likes gambling.
He likes it so much--or at least the profits derived from it--that he's willing to ignore the state constitution, the state's voters and the state legislature in order to expand gambling in Ohio.
That could be a sign that as President of the United States, in order to supplement the Federal budget, he would have no qualms about legalizing nationally various forms of wagering, such as sports betting and online gambling.
But that's only conjecture at this time, however, because as a Presidential candidate, Kasich has made no official statements concerning gambling of any kind.
(This article is one in a continuing Gambling 911 series about the 2016 Presidential candidates and their views on gambling issues. To see previous installments of the series, click the POLITICS icon on the left side of the Gambling 911 home page.)
By Tom Somach
Gambling 911 Staff Writer
