The Central Ohio News recently reported that the Ohio Attorney General and State Governor have drawn out an executive order classifying any machine that looks or sounds like a slot machine, and pays out money as a slot machine. Although this may sound like a sort of no-brainer, the fact of the matter is that there are many different types of quasi-casino style slot machines, that have been hitherto sliding under the radar of gaming regulators in Ohio.

Attorney General Marc Dann and Governor Ted Strickland, who has already signed the executive order, said in a joint statement that the order will make the marketing of casino gambling machines as games of amusement a crime under Ohio's Consumer Sales Practices Act. Distinguishing the machines between amusement and gambling rather than between skill versus chance, is expected to be a nail in the coffin on this issue. Effecting thousands of machines and several gaming companies doing business in Ohio, the new law will go into effect pending a short time frame in which machine owners, distributors, manufacturers and lessees will be required to cease giving public access to the machines.

Along with the executive order, Attorney General Dann is authorized to issue a Cease and Desist letter to anyone possessing the casino style slot machines, which have more than doubled in the past six months. The most recent estimate shows there are approximately 50,000 of these machines currently in circulation in the State of Ohio. Businesses will have three days from the date of receiving the letter to put the machines out of commission, which the Governor's Office is expecting to take place without a fight.