With estimates that five of the state's seven horse racing tracks will close if measures aren't taken by the legislature, the Ohio State Racing Commission today issued a proposal to state bureaucrats to permit 14,000 video slot machines at state racetracks

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As states around Ohio like Indiana and Pennsylania flourish under slot-infused programs, the horse industry in the Buckeye State is steadily losing business. Losing five tracks would reportedly result in losing $328 million of economic impact and over 8,600 jobs.

Declaring the projected results "viable and attainable", the commission estimates that by 2013 slots at racetracks would result in $1.3 billion of total gross proceeds. From there, agents at the racetracks would keep 50 per cent - $650 million in commissions - while $625 million would go toward an education fund.

To read the full 11-page proposal in PDF format, click here.