Nixon said the state lottery commission wants to seek legal clarity as well as a declaratory judgment from the courts on whether it can proceed to authorize the slots at the horse tracks.
“We’re waiting to see how things play out,” he said.
Nixon said they are still considering a possible new location for the track if the Warren County Commission would not permit slots on the county-owned property. However, Nixon said no decision has been made and they are still evaluating their options.
Representatives of the Carlo family which owns Lebanon Trotting, could not be reached for comment.
Mel Hagemeyer, Lebanon Raceway’s general manager, said Monday’s action by the state lottery commission was expected.
“We’re starting to realize that this is going to be a reality, but we’re cautiously optimistic,” Hagemeyer said. “Today is good, but it’s just the beginning.”
Track officials and horsemen say the slots are needed to keep their jobs and the industry alive, especially with the competition from out of state casinos and the new casinos that have been approved for Ohio by voters.
According to a statement issued by Jeanie Roberts, deputy director of the Lottery’s office of communications, said the commission voted to withdraw the previous rules for the slots; voted to approve new rules for the slots; and voted to approve the Lottery’s desire to move forward in seeking legal clarity regarding the Lottery’s authority to implement the slots at the tracks.
Roberts also said in the release that this was the first step in the process and that no date has been set to move forward or has a court been identified to seek the declaratory judgment.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4504 or erichter@coxohio.com.
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