Bowing to strongly adverse public reaction, Ohio governor Ted Strickland, who changed course on slots at tracks and approved them after earlier opposing them, has now changed his mind on another major issue: the permissible age for using the slots
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The governor had approved 18 as the legal age several weeks ago. Now he says he thinks the age restriction should be 21.
Although there was much public furor over giving 18-year-olds the right to gamble, the governor attributed the change in heart to concerns of the Ohio Lottery Commission and the Department of Public Safety, responsible for administering the slots.
Since the 18-year-old minimum age edict was part of the governor’s executive order allowing slots, it is presumed the change to 21 will be governed by that amended order.
(With files from Harness Tracks of America)
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