Newspaper: Ohio gamblers lost almost $10 billion in 4 years
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A newspaper analysis of legal gambling in Ohio finds that those playing scratch-off lottery tickets and making bets at casinos have lost nearly $10 billion in the past four years.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that almost $63 billion was bet while about $53 billion was won from 2012 to 2015.
The newspaper examined legal forms of betting at the state’s four casinos, seven racinos at horse-race tracks and the Ohio Lottery.
Much of gamblers’ losses provide a boost to Ohio schools, cities and counties. For example, the lottery sent more than $1 billion this year alone to public education.
Critics say gambling has put a strain on some Ohioans.
A state study this year found that 4.7 percent of Ohio adults are at risk of becoming problem gamblers.