Lessons from Other States

In states across America, voters have rejected slot machine gambling because of the huge social costs and empty revenue promises.

Ohio, 2006

In Ohio in 2006, voters rejected the "Learn and Earn" amendment to the state Constitution that would have allowed up to 31,500 slot machines at seven horse racing tracks throughout the state and at two Cleveland non-track locations.

The issue was under fire from a fairly strong consensus, including religious leaders across the state. Opponents charged that Issue 3 backers inflated the estimates on slots revenue. And they railed against the social costs created by newly addicted gamblers. It was also said that Ohioans’ experience with the Ohio Lottery hurt Issue 3. Many voters believed that the Ohio Lottery was falsely sold as a panacea for school funding, and feared Issue 3 was another empty promise.

Washington, 2004

In 2004, Washington voters took the unique step of turning down a tax cut because of its ties to gambling. Initiative 892 would have allowed non-tribal entities to operate slot machines, and used the revenue to offset property taxes. The initiative would have allowed 18,225 electronic slot machines in more than 2,000 neighborhood bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, charities, bingo halls and card rooms across Washington. Gambling interests would have pocketed 65 percent of net machine proceeds.

The main focus of the No on 892 campaign was that slots were going to "change our neighborhoods,” “contaminate our children” and be “too closely proximate to schools." They personalized the issue and talked about how slot machine gambling would hurt families and children.