The Horseshoe In Cleveland Participated in the Child Support Program
Two Ohio agencies have been active in the state’s gambling industry, but for very different reasons. The Job Services Department has been working with legal casinos to garnish earnings, while the Bureau of Investigation has been conducting raids on illegal gaming venues.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services announced on Wednesday it has seized $2 million in unpaid child support from gamblers inside the state in the past 11 months alone. The unpaid child support was garnished from the jackpot winnings of various gamblers at Ohio casinos.
In September 2014, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Service began working with casinos and racinos (racetrack-casinos) across Ohio to cross-reference jackpot winners against a statewide database of parents who are delinquent on their child support payments. If a jackpot winner owes to the system, then all or part of the jackpot is withheld (depending on the amount owed).
Ohio Child Support Statistics
The Job Services Department said their agency collects 69% of all wages owed for child support. That percentage is better than the national average of 64%. The state has a consistent record of placing in the Top 5 of all US states when it comes to collections on child supports. The state also exceeds the national average on other custody-related issues, such as establishing paternity.
One has to wonder if Ohio’s success in coordinating with the state’s casino operators to withhold winnings for delinquent child support payers might become a nationwide trend. Casinos and racetrack operators might be hesitant to work with authorities, if they believe such garnishing of jackpots would lead to unhappy customers who might not give the casino business anymore. Winning a jackpot, only to find that jackpot has been seized by the former spouse, might not make a customer happy.
Of course, casino owners would have to weigh their own interests in such cases against simple justice–or the blowback saying no to state officials. The casino can always say it is a state policy.
Six Raids on Illegal Ohio Venues
The Ohio Casino Control Commission meanwhile conducted raids in five counties across the state this week to shut down illegal gambling operations. The counties which were the site of raids were Clark, Scioto, Union, Madison, and Franklin counties. Multiple cities in Clark County had raids, including the county seat of Springfield.
In Springfield, the Lucky Buck Game Room on Derr Road was raided. The Ohio Bureau of Investigation and other agencies cordoned off the Northland Village Shopping Center at the corner of Derr and Villa roads while the raid was being conducted.
5-County, Multi-Month Investigation
The raids came after an investigation which took several months, according to Jessica Franks, the Director of Communications for the Ohio Casino Control Commission. The investigation was launched after a complaint was made about a business in Galloway, which was alleged to have paid cash prizes for winnings.
How Risky Is Illegal Gambling?
It is legal for slot machine style businesses to operate, if they do not pay cash for wins. Instead, jackpots at convenience stores are paid in gas, food, and drink. Unfortunately, store owners are often tempted to pay cash to customers for slot machine winnings, because it draws in more customers over time. The short term boost in revenues is offset by the legal jeopardy, because non-gambling customers are going to notice what is going on. Eventually, one of them tips off the authorities.
Even when the operation’s cash practices are concealed from the general public, conducting illegal gaming is still a risky proposition. People can lose a lot of money when playing slot machines. All it takes is for one disgruntled gambler to anonymously tip off the police for an investigation to be launched.
The risk for the gambler is more straightforward. An unregulated gaming facility is likely to have a high house edge. With the odds stacked against them, gamblers are likely to lose a whole bunch of money.
Where the Raids Happened
Warrants were served at three other places of business, along with 2 private residences. The businesses were Out to Play in Portsmouth, Jackpots Skilled Games in Wheelerburg, and Spin City in Galloway. The private homes were located in Plain City and Hilliard.
In the various raids, authorities say they seized cash, gaming machines, and documents. The various assets will be used as evidence in the upcoming trials.
