To generate additional revenue dollars for Ohio, Gov. Bob Taft concentrates his efforts on expanding the lottery, and it appears the General Assembly is concentrating its efforts on allowing slot machines at racetracks. We wish them luck in their efforts. 

Our Indian casino will only compliment slot machines at racetracks. Our casino would be a first-class Las Vegas-style casino with all class III gaming. This would also include parimutuel betting, which would also help the racetracks' declining attendance and mutuel handle. Our casino would handle more in parimutuel betting dollars than Thistledown and Northfield Park racetracks combined, which practically all goes back to the Ohio Racing Association. In the past, the association pledged support for our efforts. 

The millions who visit the casino each week also would be purchasing Ohio Lottery tickets. 

In Canada, there are class III casinos, and its racetracks have slot machines. These establishments compliment and help one another. The combination of expanded gambling in Ohio would help our state immensely. 

Taft continues to ignore our committee's requests to make the development of our Indian casino a reality. He also continues to ignore the thousands of letters, e-mails, faxes and phone calls from thousands of casino supporters in the Mahoning Valley, asking him to help our area by signing the state and Indian compact and allowing the development of the casino. 

This fall, the Casino for the Mahoning Valley Committee will campaign vigorously for the gubernatorial candidate that supports our efforts, even if it means selecting a write- in candidate and knocking on every door in the entire state. The number of supporters for the Indian casino in the Mahoning Valley has grown into several hundred thousand and continues to grow. 

Patrick MacKondy, coordinator 

Casino for the Mahoning Valley 

Committee 

Youngstown