Ohio Race Wagering

The Ohio State Racing Commission was formed in 1933 after the Ohio General Assembly passed the Emmons Bill, which permitted pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing. In 1994, offtrack betting facilities were legalized, but it wasn't until 1997 that an OTB facility opened.

In 2007, the Senate passed legislation that would allow instant racing terminals (bets on past horse races) at racetracks. The legislation died when Gov. Strickland threatened to veto the bill.

In 2009, horse racing owners and supporters of the industry began trying to bring slot machines to Ohio's racetracks through a ballot initiative. The measure gathered enough support to appear on the 2010 November ballot, but was withdrawn once casinos were legalized and the governor announced he planned to bring over 17,000 slot machines to the state's seven tracks.

On 1 June 2012, Scioto Downs in Columbus was the first racetrack in Ohio to offer a VLT or slots parlor.