The Ohio Lottery Commission has released proposed rules to regulate the new “racinos,” or combination racetrack and video lottery terminal, or VLT, casinos. The rules would allow 18 year olds to play the VLTs. Currently, the states adjacent to Ohio allow gambling only at age 21. The rules would also permit the racinos to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In order to participate in the VLT program, each of Ohio’s racetracks must make a number of payments totaling $65 million per racino. The first payment of $13 million per racino is due September 15th. All of the racetracks have indicated that they intend to participate in the VLT program and make the payment.