>>> OHIO UN-MASKED AND GIMMICK, OR NOT, VAX-A-MILLION SEEMS TO BE WORKING.

JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK.

SAM GRESHAM OF COMMON CAUSE OHIO.

BOB CLEGG.

AND KAREN KASLER.

IT MAY TAKE A WHILE TO GET USED TO.

BUT THE MASKS ARE COMING OFF.

THE -- SAYS IT'S OKAY FOR VACCINATED PEOPLE TO SHED THEIR MASKS EVEN INDOORS.

THE STATE OF OHIO FOR ALL SBEPTS AND PURPOSES HAS LIFTED ITS MASK MANDATE, TWO WEEKS BEFORE IT WAS SET TO EXPIRE, ANYWAY.

THE STATE HAS ENDED INSPECTOR-SPOT CHECKS OF BUSINESSES, TO SEE IF WORKERS AND CUSTOMERS WERE WEARING MASKS.

>> WE SEE NO REASON TO HAVE THIS GROUP OUT, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE.

IT'S GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE, FOR THEM, TO DETERMINE WHO IS VACCINATED AND WHO'S NOT VACCINATED.

AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM THAT BUSINESSES FACE.

>>> AND BUSINESSES, AT LEAST MAJOR RETAILERS, ARE MAKING MASKS OPTIONAL.

KROGER, GIANT EAGLE, TARGET, AND MANY OTHERS SAY, ONLY UNVACCINATED PEOPLE HAVE TO WEAR MASKS.

BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CHECK.

SAM GRESHAM, YOU HAVE BEEN PRETTY ANXIOUS ABOUT COVID DURING THIS WHOLE TIME.

PRETTY CONCERNED WITH THE SPREAD AND HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR FAMILY AND OTHERS.

HOW EAGER, ARE YOU, TO SEE FOLKS WITHOUT MASKS?

>> I -- I THINK IT'S A TRUST ISSUE.

THERE HAVE BEEN ANTI-VAXXERS, ANTI-MASK PEOPLE.

ARE PEOPLE GOING TO TELL ME THE TRUTH?

ARE THEY GOING TO SET PEOPLE UP TO GET INFECTED?

I -- THAT'S MY CONCERN.

THE OTHER THING, TOO.

THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS GOING TO STICK TO THE SCIENCE.

AND HE SAID, WHEN -- WHEN THE RATE GOT TO 100,000, HE WAS GOING TO CHANGE.

WELL, IT'S STILL ABOVE 100-AND-SOME THOUSAND.

SO, I HOPE HE IS NOT BEING PREMATURE.

I ALSO THINK IT REQUIRES A LOT OF PEOPLE TO RETHINK THINGS.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE I TALK TO ARE NOT TAKING THAT MASK OFF, FOR A WHILE.

EVEN WHEN THEY GO INTO PLACES.

BUT BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT'S A TRUST FACTOR.

WHO ELSE IN THE ROOM IS INFECTED OR NOT?

SO -- AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

I NOW WALK OUTSIDE.

BUT I HOPE IT DOESN'T HAVE A BACKLASH, ON EVERYBODY.

>> BOB CLEGG, IF YOU ARE NOT VACCINATED AND YOU ARE JUST AS PRONE TO SPREADING THE DISEASE AS YOU WERE SIX MONTHS AGO WHEN IT WAS GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY WANT YOU TO WEAR A MASK.

SO, IF -- GIVEN THAT, AND ONLY HALF OF THE STATE IS NOW VACCINATED.

IS IT WISE TO GO WITH THE HONOR SYSTEM?

BOB?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I -- I THINK IT'S -- IT'S JUST A MATTER OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, FIGURING OUT -- IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T VACCINATED THAT ARE THE ONES THAT ARE AT MOST RISK.

PEOPLE THAT ARE VACCINATED, YOU KNOW, ARE GOING TO BE FINE.

AND SAM WAS TALKING ABOUT, I HOPE THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T DO THIS TOO PREMATURELY.

WELL, HE'S FOLLOWING WHAT THE FEDERAL, YOU KNOW, GUIDELINES ARE.

THE -- THE CDC AND OTHER GROUPS, LIKE THAT, HAVE ALREADY SAID THAT IF YOU'RE VACCINATED, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK.

SO, WHY WEAR IT?

>> KAREN KASLER.

I'LL WAIT FOR BOB'S WI-FI TO CATCH UP.

THE BURDEN ON BUSINESSES.

I THINK MOST BUSINESSES ARE CERTAINLY FOLLOWING THOSE CDC GUIDANCE -- GUIDELINES -- THAT BOB WAS TALKING ABOUT.

AND THEY'RE NOT REQUIRING THEIR EMPLOYEES, THAT ARE VACCINATED, OR THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO ARE VACCINATED, TO WEAR A MASK.

BUT IT'S STILL AN HONOR SYSTEM.

>> WELL, I THINK THERE IS SOME RELUCTANCE, EVEN IN THE BEGINNING, TO HAVE EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS, ALL, WEAR MASKS.

YOU MIGHT RECALL, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, DeWINE HAD PUT IN A MASK MANDATE FOR ABOUT A DAY.

AND THEN, TOOK IT OFF, THE NEXT DAY, BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN CALLS FROM BUSINESSES, WONDERING HOW THEY WOULD ENFORCE SUCH A THING ON THEIR CUSTOMERS.

AND SO, THE MASK MANDATE WAS IN PLACE FOR EMPLOYEES.

AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES WHO, STILL, ARE PLANNING ON DOING THAT.

AND A LOT OF BUSINESSES WHO ARE SAYING THAT THEY WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DO IT.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE -- PERCENT OF OHIO'S TOTAL POPULATION, WHICH INCLUDES PEOPLE NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE VACCINATED BUT 42% OF THE POPULATION THAT HAS STARTED THE VACCINE PROCESS.

THAT'S 5.1 MILLION PEOPLE.

THAT'S, STILL, NOT EVEN TO THE HALFWAY POINT.

AND SO, I -- I THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT OF TREPIDATION HERE.

AND I KNOW, I TALKED TO OHIO STATE INFECTIOUS DISEASE INSTITUTES DIRECTOR THIS WEEK.

AND I ASKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW FAST IT SEEMS LIKE WE CAME TO THIS POINT.

TOOK US A YEAR TO GET HERE, OF COURSE.

BUT THE CDC WENT FROM TELLING PEOPLE HANG ON JUST A LITTLE WHILE LONGER AT THE END OF MARCH.

TO ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND STOP WEARING MASKS.

AND FOR SOME PEOPLE, THAT KIND OF WHIPLASH MOMENT HAS BEEN A HARD THING TO ABSORB.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO -- WE -- WE NEED A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, MAYBE, FOR SOME OF US TO REALLY FIGURE OUT WHERE WE ARE IN THIS PROCESS.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE SCIENCE THERE.

THEY ARE SHOWING THAT CDC IS BASING ITS RECOMMENDATION ON THE FACT THAT THERE IS NOW DATA THAT SHOWS IF YOU HAVE THE VACCINE, YOU ARE AT VERY LOW RISK OF SPREADING IT TO OTHER PEOPLE.

AT LEAST IN SERIOUS AMOUNTS THAT WOULD CAUSE HOSPITALIZATION.

BOB CLEGG, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT -- DOES THIS SHOW THE NEED FOR A -- FOR A VACCINE BADGE?

OR SOME KIND OF -- THEY USE THE WORD PASSWATER.

PASSPORT.

BUT SOME KIND OF APP ON YOUR PHONE SO A STORE CAN SAY ARE YOU REALLY VACCINATED?

YOU SHOW THEM YOUR PHONE, YOU ARE GOOD TO GO.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, I ACTUALLY TOOK A PICTURE OF MY CARD.

SO I HAVE A PICTURE SHOWING THAT I WAS, YOU KNOW, VACCINATED TWICE.

SO, I -- YOU KNOW, IF I GO INTO A SITUATION WHERE I HAVE TO PROVE IT.

I -- I'M JUST GOING TO PULL THAT OUT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, NOBODY REALLY WANTS TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD.

YOU KNOW, VACCINATION PASSPORTS OR VACCINATION PROOF.

IT CAN GET DICEY, I THINK.

AND A LOT OF BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY, DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF POLICING THIS KIND OF THING.

AND I THINK THEY CAN VIEW THIS AS POTENTIAL PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD WITH CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.

SO THAT'S WHY I DON'T SEE -- AND I DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF THE BLUE STATES WHO HAVE BEEN REALLY HARDCORE ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T EVEN SEE ANY OF THEM SUGGESTING THEY DO THAT KIND OF A PROGRAM.

>> NO.

IT'S REALLY -- OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE HAD IT BUT NOT REALLY IN THE U.S., AT ALL.

IF IT'S HARD TO GET USED TO WEARING MASKS, IS IT GOING TO BE HARD EVEN WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED?

YOU KNOW, 75, 80% OF US HAVE THE VACCINE MAYBE.

>> I THINK IT IS BECAUSE OF THE TRUST FACTOR.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHO IS FULLY VACCINATED OR WHO IS NOT AND WHAT BOB SAID RIGHT THERE IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.

SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE ME PERSONAL ASSURANCE THAT EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM HAS SOME LEVEL OF VACCINATION.

OR THEY'RE WEARING A MASK.

THEY HAVE A WHITE HAT ON OR A BLACK HAT OR I'M NOT COMING.

THAT'S THE REAL TRUTH.

IF I CAN'T BE SURE THAT I HAVE A REASONABLE LEVEL OF PROTECTION, AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO COME LAST.

>> YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

WEEK ONE OF THE VAX-A-MILLION DRAWING.

NOW, DON'T CALL IT A LOTTERY AND DON'T CALL IT A SWEEPSTAKES.

THE VAX-A-MILLION DRAWING IS DRAWING A LOT OF INTEREST.

ON THE FIRST DAY THE ENTRY SITE WENT LIVE, IT DREW 25 MILLION VISITS.

LOOK AT THAT LOGO.

DOESN'T IT LOOK FUN?

STATE OFFICIALS SAY, MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE REGISTERED FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THOSE MILLION DOLLARS.

FIVE OF THOSE MILLION-DOLLAR PRIZES.

AND HEALTH OFFICIALS CREDIT THE DRAWING FOR A SLIGHT JUMP IN ADULTS GETTING THE VACCINE.

KAREN KASLER, YOU KNOW, THE -- THE VACCINE RATE WAS NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR A WHILE.

BUT THE PACT PAST WEEK OR SO, IT TICKED UP A BIT.

HOW MUCH CREDIT CAN WE GIVE VAX A MILLION FOR THAT UPTICK?

>> I THINK YOU CAN GIVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF CREDIT.

I MEAN, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS CERTAINLY TAKING SOME CREDIT EVEN THOUGH THE SAME WEEK THAT THAT INCREASE WAS REPORTED, THAT WAS ALSO THE FIRST WEEK THAT KIDS FROM 12 TO 16 COULD GET THEIR VACCINE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO AT LEAST NOTICE HERE.

BUT THE NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT THIS GOT, I THINK, REALLY GOT PEOPLE TALKING.

I MEAN, IT WAS NOT LONG AFTER OHIO MADE ITS ANNOUNCEMENT.

MAYBE, A WEEK AFTER.

THAT YOU SAW MARYLAND DO SOMETHING SIMILAR AND NEW YORK DO SOMETHING SIMILAR, WHICH IS INTERESTING BECAUSE OHIO IS THE ONLY RED STATE THAT, APPARENTLY, IS DOING THIS.

I MEAN, MARYLAND IS RUN BY A RED GOVERNOR BUT IS A BLUE STATE.

NEW YORK'S A BLUE STATE.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING THEY HAD BETTER-VACCINATION RATES IN BLUE STATES BUT YET, THEY DECIDED TO GO THIS ROUTE.

AND SO, I -- I THINK THAT IT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT GETS PEOPLE TALKING.

AND MY COLLEAGUE, ANDY CIAO, TRIED TO TALK TO SOME EXPERTS IN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE ACT WHETHER THIS ACTUALLY DOES INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE.

AND -- AND THE CONCLUSION IS THAT, YEAH, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO GET THIS VACCINE NOW THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE CONSIDERED IT BEFORE BECAUSE OF THIS FANTASY OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A MILLION DOLLARS.

>> I MEAN, IT MAKES -- IT -- IT'S A ONE-IN-A-MILLION CHANCE, ASSUMING THAT 5 MILLION PEOPLE ARE VACCINATE THE.

ALL OF THEM ENTER.

IT'S FIVE DRAWINGS.

SO IT'S NOT GOOD.

BUT LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, IT -- IT GENERATES BUZZ.

IT GENERATES EXCITEMENT.

AND THIS IS AIMED AT FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE FENCE BUT NOT ANTI-VACCINE.

THEY WERE, LIKE, LAZY, PROCRASTINATORS.

KEPT PUTTING IT OFF.

THIS IS THEIR -- THEY'RE AIMING THIS AT.

>> IT HAS BETTER ODDS THAN THE LOTTERY, THOUGH.

IT HAS BETTER ODDS THAN THE SUPERLOTTERY.

SO, IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE, IT'S THIS LOTTERY.

AND THE SIZE OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY COMPETE IN IT.

AND IT HAS A PREREQUISITE.

YOU JUST CAN'T GO BUY A TICKET.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE PROOF OF BEING VACCINATED.

I THINK THAT'S A -- THAT'S A GOOD ENCOURAGEMENT.

I KNOW THAT PEOPLE GONNA SAY, NAH, THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.

WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET YOU, GET A NEEDLE IN YOUR ARM IS ALL RIGHT WITH ME.

>> BOB CLEGG, THEY DID CHANGE THE RULES WHEN THE GOVERNOR FIRST ANNOUNCED THIS, THEY SAID BASICALLY EVERYONE BE ENTERED.

MAYBE, HAVE AN ALTERNATE ENTRY SITE.

AND THEN, THEY CHECKED LATER I GUESS IF YOU WERE VACCINATED BUT NOW, YOU HAVE TO ENTER TO WIN.

DOES THAT MAKE MORE SENSE TO YOU?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK YOU GOT TO OPT IN.

YOU GOT TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE DUE DILIGENCE TO DO IT YOURSELF.

AND, YOU KNOW WHAT, I AGREE WITH SAM ON THIS ONE.

WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET PEOPLE TO DO THIS, LET'S DO IT.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS WORKING.

SO LET'S GO AHEAD WITH IT.

>> KAREN, IS THERE ANY TALK ABOUT IF THIS IS SUCCESSFUL, USING IT FOR OTHER THINGS?

LIKE SWEEPSTAKES TO GET THE FLU SHOT?

A SWEEPSTAKES TO LOSE 20 POUNDS TO HELP -- TO HELP FIGHT THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I MEAN, I THINK THE OPPORTUNITIES HERE ARE REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE, CERTAINLY, IT DOES PRESENT THIS WHOLE CONCEPT OF, IF YOU INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO DO SOMETHING YOU WANT THEM TO DO.

AND IN THIS CASE, SOMETHING THAT SCIENCE HAS SHOWN US IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH BECAUSE IT WILL PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING COVID AND GOING INTO THE HOSPITAL.

YOU COULD STILL GET IT, BUT YOU'LL BE A LOT LESS SICK.

WELL, WHO KNOWS WHERE THIS MIGHT END UP AND I THINK IT'S INTERESTING OTHER STATES HAVE PICKED UP ON THIS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE WONDERING EXACTLY HOW ALL THIS WORKS.

BUT THE LONGER THOSE PEOPLE WAIT, THE LESS LIKELY IT IS THEY COULD WIN THIS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO GOT VACCINATED FIRST.

WHO CAN REGISTER AND THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS SUNDAY.

THE DRAWING IS MONDAY.

THE WINNER IS ANNOUNCED ON WEDNESDAY.

THOSE PEOPLE ARE IN THAT FIRST DRAWING, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE SMALLEST POOL OF PEOPLE, POTENTIALLY.

SO, IT'S KIND OF AN INCENTIVE TO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED EARLY.

THE ONE THING THAT BOTHERS ME A LITTLE BIT HERE, THOUGH, IS THE MORE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THIS.

AND THE MORE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED.

THE MORE PEOPLE WHO GET INTO THE POOL TO WIN THIS MONEY.

THE LOWER THE ODDS FOR EVERYBODY WINNING.

SO THERE IS THAT LITTLE MOMENT THERE.

THAT LITTLE POINT.

>> I AM CURIOUS, WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WEEK ONE?

BECAUSE, CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, KAREN, YOU HAD THE -- THE DEADLINE IS SUNDAY FOR THIS BUT THEN, YOU CAN ENTER THE NEXT WEEK.

SO, YOU'RE WATCHING TV ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT BECAUSE ALL THE TV STATIONS ARE GOING TO CARRY THIS THING LIVE.

IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD STORY, HOPEFULLY.

YOU KNOW?

AND THEN, GET THE VACCINE.

SO WEEK TWO WILL BE THE JUDGE OF HOW MUCH THE EXCITEMENT IS GENERATING ON THIS.

>> OH I THINK SO.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS INHERENT IN THE REGISTRATION IS THE OHIO LOTTERY CAN THEN USE YOUR LICENSE AND YOUR NAME TO KIND OF ADVERTISE THIS.

THEY CAN USE YOU ON BILLBOARDS.

YOU CAN KIND OF GET A LITTLE STATE-MODELING CONTRACT OUT OF THIS SO I THINK IT WILL BE SOMETHING TO WATCH TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SECOND WEEK GOING FORWARD AFTER THIS FIRST WINNER IS ANNOUNCED.

>> WE JOKED ON OUR PODCAST, THIS WEEK, THAT PEOPLE WE WANTED TO SEE WIN THE VAX-A-MILLION.

AND MY PICK WAS I WANTED TO SEE JOSH MANDEL WIN THE VAX-A-MILLION SWEEPSTAKES.

ANYWAY, GO AHEAD.

>> AND REMEMBER, IT'S -- IT'S THE SHOTTERY.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN CALLING IT AROUND HERE.

VACCINE LOTTERY, THE SHOTTERY.

>> IF ENTERING A SWEEPSTAKES BY GETTING A LIFESAVING VACCINE WASN'T EXCITING ENOUGH.

OHIOANS MAY SOON BE ABLE TO BET ON THE BENGALS LEGALLY.

THE GAMBLING BILL -- A NEW GAMBLING BILL IS WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

IT IS A LITTLE COMPLICATED BUT THE -- AND THE BILL IS STILL BEING TWEAKED BUT BASICALLY, THE STATE WILL ISSUE DOZENS OF LICENSES TO ESTABLISHMENTS TO TAKE BETS.

SOME WILL BE TO ONLINE SITES.

THE LICENSES WILL COST A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THREE YEARS.

THEN, THE STATE WOULD TAX GAMBLING AT A RATE OF 10%.

AND THE SYSTEM WOULD BE RUN BY THE STATE'S GAMBLING COMMISSION.

THE CASINO COMMISSION WHICH OVERSEES THE STATE'S CASINOS.

KAREN KASLER, HOW -- 21 STATES HAVE LEGALIZED GAMBLING SINCE THE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT STATES COULD DO IT.

STATES OTHER THAN NEVADA.

HOW CLOSE IS OHIO TO DOING THIS, ONCE AND FOR ALL?

>> WELL, THE OTHER PART OF THAT IS THAT THE OHIO LOTTERY DOES HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY HERE.

THEY CAN RUN A SPORT-BETTING POOL.

AND THAT'S BEEN THE STICKING POINT I THINK IN THE LEGISLATURE IS THAT THERE -- THERE WERE SOME FOLKS WHO WANTED TO SEE THE CASINO CONTROL COMMISSION CONTROL THIS.

SOME FOLKS WANTED TO SEE OHIO LOTTERY COMMISSION CONTROL THIS.

AND THERE WAS ALSO THAT SPLIT BETWEEN ALLOWING IT JUST AT CASINOS.

AND SO, ONLY THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE CASINOS COULD REALLY BENEFIT.

VERSUS, HAVING IT AT LOTTERY RETAILERS ALL-AROUND THE STATE, WHERE SMALLER COMMUNITIES GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT.

BUT ALSO, THIS IS A WORRY THAT THE LARGER YOU MAKE THIS, AND THE MORE PREVALENT YOU MAKE THIS.

COULD THIS BECOME A PROBLEM FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PRONE TO GAMBLING?

I MEAN, WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT SPORTS GAMBLING IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE LEGAL OR NOT.

AND EVERY STATE AROUND OHIO, OTHER THAN KENTUCKY, HAS MADE IT LEGAL.

AND SO, WE'RE -- WE'RE CLOSE.

NOW, THE SPONSORS SAY THAT WE HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, MISSED THE BOAT HERE.

AND THAT -- THAT THIS CAN, STILL, WORK FOR OHIO.

BUT WORKING OUT THOSE FINAL DETAILS IS REALLY THE IMPORTANT THING AND THAT'S BEEN THE HOLD-UP ALL ALONG.

>> BOB CLEGG, ONLINE.

ON YOUR PHONE.

APP.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE -- THE REAL MONEY IS COMING ON THIS -- ON THIS GAMBLING.

YOU CAN SIT AND WATCH A BASEBALL GAME OR FOOTBALL GAME AND BET ON WHETHER THEY WIN OR PASS ON THIRD DOWN.

IS IT FAIR TO HAVE THE CASINOS SORT OF RUNNING THE SHOW FOR MOST OF THIS?

>> YEAH.

THIS HAS BEEN A -- KAREN JUST DETAILED IT -- IT'S BEEN A [ INAUDIBLE ] HERE.

SO, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT ALL THIS IS ACT.

WHO IS GOING TO BE IN CHARGE?

WHO CAN GET THE MONEY?

I THINK THEY GOT TO RESOLVE THIS BECAUSE THE STATE OF OHIO NEEDS THIS REVENUE.

AND I'D RATHER HAVE THEM GO THIS DIRECTION THAN TRYING TO RAISE TAXES.

SO, I -- I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE RESOLVED.

I THINK IT WILL BE RESOLVED, THIS SESSION.

AND I THINK WE'RE -- WE'LL, AT THE END -- IN THE END, HAVE SPORTS GAMBLING HERE, IN OHIO.

>> SAM GRESHAM, YOUR MOM ALWAYS SAY JUST BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO DO IT.

THAT HOLD TRUE HERE?

SHOULD OHIO BE THE LONE HOLDOUT IF THEY DON'T THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA TO EXPAND GAMBLING BECAUSE OF ISSUES WITH GAMBLING AND ADDICTION TO GAMBLING AND PEOPLE LOSING MONEY?

>> TOO GREEDY, MIKE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LET THAT GO.

LOOK AT THE SURROUNDING STATES.

AND ALL THE MONEY THEY'RE MAKING.

IT'S, ALSO, GOING TO CREATE ADDICTS.

PEOPLE WHO NOW DO IT ILLEGALLY IS GOING TO DO EXACTLY WHAT BOB SAID.

THEY WILL BE WATCHING TELEVISION.

FLIP THE APP OPEN.

AND IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO RESULT IN THEM BETTING MORE OFTEN THAN THEY'VE DONE IN THE PAST.

I -- I LOOK AT FAN DUEL.

I AM SURE ALL OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH FAN DUEL.

FAN DUEL'S GONNA GET SOME COMPETITION, NOW.

BUT I THINK THE POOL IS STILL GOING TO BE LARGER IN FAN DUEL, IN COMPARISON TO OUR LOTTERY.

BECAUSE FAN DUEL IS -- IS -- IS NATIONWIDE.

SO IT'S GOING TO GET SOME COMPETITION.

WE'LL SEE.

BUT AS THE GOVERNOR SAYS, WE CAN'T LET THAT MONEY GO TO INDIANA, MICHIGAN.

WE JUST CAN'T DO THAT.

>> YEAH.

AND PEOPLE ARE BETTING NOW, ILLEGALLY.

OR USING OFFSHORE GAMBLING SITES.

KAREN KASLER, YOU KNOW, THE PRO-SPORTS LEAGUES.

I THINK SOME OF THE PRO-SPORTS LEAGUES ARE PARTNERING WITH THESE LEGAL-GAMBLING SITES.

THE QUESTION IS THE COLLEGES.

SOME STATES HAVE BARRED, YOU KNOW, MAJOR COLLEGES FROM BEING ABLE TO BET ON LIKE I THINK RUTGERS IN NEW JERSEY.

YOU CAN'T BET ON RUTGERS FOOTBALL.

WHO WOULD BET ON RUTGERS?

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT ANYWAY, WOULD OHIO STATE BE ASKED TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS?

COLLEGE FOOTBALL OR BASKETBALL?

>> YEAH, THEY'VE ASKED TO.

I MEAN, THE COLLEGES HAVE ASKED IF THEY COULD BE EXCLUDED BUT IN MY CONVERSATION WITH SPONSORS.

HE SAYS, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THEM?

BECAUSE THEY ARE SUCH A BIG PART OF WHAT PEOPLE WOULD BE GAMBLING ON.

AND SO, TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO AMATEUR SPORTS, THAT ARE STILL HUGE MONEYMAKERS, AND STILL TAKE UP A HUGE AMOUNT OF THE WHOLE DISCUSSION ABOUT SPORTS BETTING.

THAT'S AN ISSUE TO BE RESOLVE FD HERE.

BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE PRO SPORTS, THE PRO MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS TEAMS AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP IN THIS.

THEY HAD WANTED THE CASINOS TO RUN THIS AND -- AND THEY ARE GETTING THEIR WAY, IN A SENSE.

AND I KNOW, I WAS TRAVELING, FAIRLY RECENTLY, THROUGH PENNSYLVANIA.

AND SAW BIG SIGNS PROMOTING THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MGM AND THE PITTSBURGH THEATERS.

SO THERE IS DEFINITELY A RELATIONSHIP GOING ON HERE, WHICH MAKES IT JUST FEEL A LITTLE WEIRD.

THAT THIS IS THE TEAM I AM BETTING ON AND THIS IS HOW THEY WANT ME TO BET.

IT'S -- I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF EXPLANATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO THIS, TO REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE ABLE TO COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND IT.

>> YEAH.

THINK OF THE IRONY OF THE CINCINNATI REDS WITH ALL THE HISTORY OF GAMBLING THERE.

HAVING ITS OWN BETTING SERVICE DOWN RIGHT THERE AT THE GREAT AMERICAN BALLPARK.

IT COULD HAPPEN.

VERY WELL, MIGHT HAPPEN.

PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE COMING TO COLUMBUS HAS RETURNED.

AMTRAK SAYS IT WANTS TO RESTORE SERVICE TO COLUMBUS BY CREATING A LINK LINKING CLEVELAND, COLUMBUS, DAYTON, AND CINCINNATI.

SUPPORTERS SAY IT IS LONG OVERDUE, AND IT WILL LINK COLUMBUS TO THE NATIONAL RAIL NETWORK AND HELP THE REGION'S AND NATION'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

CRITICS DOUBT AMTRAK'S ABILITY TO ATTRACT RIDERS, AND THEY WORRY ABOUT WHAT STATE-AND-LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL HAVE TO PAY TO SUBSIDIZE THE SYSTEM.

BOB CLEGG, IF YOU WERE TO BET, WHICH WOULD COME FIRST?

LEGAL-SPORTS BETTING?

OR AN AMTRAK STATION IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS?

WHAT DO YOU THINK, BOB?

>> I THINK -- I THINK -- >> SPORTS -- SPORTS BETTING?

OR AMTRAK?

BOB APPARENTLY HAS FROZEN UP.

>> SPORTS BETTING.

>> WHY IS -- HOW IS IT SO HARD TO GET RAIL SERVICE -- TO GET LOCAL SUPPORT FOR PASSENGER-RAIL SERVICE IN COLUMBUS?

>> BECAUSE CARS AND PEOPLE WHO MAKE GASOLINE MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

IT IS A GREAT THING, TO ME.

I LOOKED AT THE LINES.

IT'D GO TO D.C.

THEY GO TO CHICAGO.

THEY GO TO CLEVELAND.

THEY GO TO PENNSYLVANIA.

THEY EVEN GO ALL THE WAY TO NEW YORK.

FOR ME, IT'D BE A GOOD EXCURSION FOR A WEEKEND TO GO UP, BY TRAIN.

DO A LITTLE SHOPPING.

COME BACK BY TRAIN.

I DON'T HAVE ANY WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS ON A TRAIN.

>> BOB, IS THAT -- IS THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM?

CLEVELAND, COLUMBUS, CINCINNATI.

PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO GO TO CHICAGO OR WASHINGTON, D.C. OR NEW YORK CITY.

IS THAT A BETTER WAY?

CLEVELAND, I GOT TO DRIVE.

I MEAN, IT'S ONLY TWO AND A HALF HOURS.

IS BOB WITH US?

KAREN, IS THAT -- IS THAT A DISCUSSION AT THE STATEHOUSE?

MAYBE, WE SHOULD SELL THIS A DIFFERENT WAY BESIDES JUST LINKING CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, AND COLUMBUS?

>> I THINK THE STATE HOUSE HAS BEEN PRETTY CLEAR, AT LEAST IN RECENT MEMORY, ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT PASSENGER-RAIL SERVICE.

I MEAN, JOHN KASICH, WHEN HE BECAME GOVERNOR.

SO, AND ESPECIALLY, WHEN THERE IS DISCUSSION THIS WEEK AT THE COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN CLUB ABOUT THIS.

AND FROM AMTRAK, THE -- THE SPOKESPERSON THERE SAID IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME STATE FUNDING TO GET THIS GOING.

THE -- THAT IS PART OF WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE STATE WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THAT FUNDING.

BUT TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING SAM JUST SAID.

THERE'S PERSPECTIVE, AMONG PEOPLE WHO LIKE AMTRAK AND PASSENGER RAIL, THAT HIGHWAYS ARE BEING SUBSIDIZED BY THE HIGHWAY TRUST MONEY THAT GOES IN, FEDERAL MONEY THERE.

AIRPORTS AND AIR TRAVEL ARE BEING SUBSIDIZED BY THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT GOES THERE.

WHY NOT TRY TO SUBSIDIZE TRAIN TRAVEL, AS WELL?

>> BOB CLEGG.

BOB CLEGG, AGAIN.

WE JUST GOT A PRESS RELEASE FROM SHERIFF BROWN THIS WEEK, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HELP BOLTON AIR FIELD.

IF THERE IS MONEY TO HELP THOSE PLACES, SHOULDN'T THERE BE MONEY FOR -- FOR -- FOR PASSENGER RAIL AS WELL?

>> SURE.

AND I WORRIED ABOUT THE -- I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE LOCAL AND STATE MONEY THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO IN THIS.

SO, THE -- WHATEVER FEDERAL MONEY WE CAN GET, LET'S GET IT AND LET'S DO IT.

>> BUT WHY NOT -- IT IS STATE MONEY THAT GOES INTO THE HIGHWAYS AND, LIKE, I REMEMBER ONE TIME I LOOKED AT THE PRICE TAG FOR AN INTERSECTION IN DELAWARE COUNTY WAS DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE STATE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LAST-AMTRAK SERVICE.

>> YEAH.

BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO USE THE SERVICE?

>> YEAH.

>> YOU'D PROBABLY BE SURPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE.

>> WELL, ESPECIALLY, SINCE IT WON'T BE OPERATIONAL UNTIL 2035?

WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE -- YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE DEMAND FOR RAIL IN 2035?

14 YEARS FROM NOW.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S THE ULTIMATE-HIGH SPEED.

THE REGULAR-SPEED TRAINS WOULD BE -- THEY ARE LOOKING AT 2025.

AND THEN, RAMP UP TO WHAT WE HAVE ON THE EAST COAST AND WHAT EUROPE AND -- AND ASIA HAS.

SAM, DO YOU EVER SEE THE ATTITUDE CHANGING IN COLUMBUS AT THE STATEHOUSE YOU THINK?

>> YES, BECAUSE THE CAPITALISTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO RUN INDUSTRY ARE GOING TO PUSH THIS THING, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO NEED IT.

I MEAN, I LIKE DRIVING TO CLEVELAND/CINCINNATI.

BUT NOW -- OR EVEN DAYTON.

BUT THE CLOSER YOU GET TO THE CITIES, THE MORE TRAFFIC IS BACKED UP.

AND IN CASE YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT.

BUT I LIKE GOING TO CLEVELAND TO A GAME.

A FOOTBALL GAME.

DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

GET ON THE TRAIN AND COME BACK.

I COULD JUST SEE MYSELF DOING THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> I -- I WOULD GET [ INAUDIBLE ] TRYING TO DRIVE.

>> OFF THE RECORD COMMENTS.

SAM GRESHAM, YOU GO FIRST.

>> I HOPE PEOPLE KEEP THEIR EYES ON WHAT'S GOING ON ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BOB CLEGG, YOUR FINAL THOUGHT?

>> GENE SMITH, THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY JUST GOT A CONTRACT EXTENSION TO 2026.

AND HE IS GETTING $1.5 MILLION, A YEAR, WHICH SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK IS A LOT BUT IT'S NOWHERE NEAR AS MUCH AS COACHES ARE GETTING.

MIKE HOLTMAN GETS JUST OVER $3 MILLION A YEAR.

SO HE'S A BARGAIN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KAREN KASLER, YOUR FINAL THOUGHT?

>> JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE 2020 ELECTION WAS OVER, WE ARE STARTING UP THE TRUMP RALLIES, APPARENTLY, AGAIN.

HE SPOKE TO A NEWS -- A NEWS-QUOTE NETWORK THAT WILL NOT BE NAMED.

AND SAID THAT HE WANTS TO HAVE RALLIES, STARTING THIS SUMMER, STARTING IN JUNE IN OHIO AND FLORIDA.

AND THEN, NORTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA.

SO, LOOK FOR THAT IN OHIO.

AT SOME POINT IN JUNE.

BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL BE BACK TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HEAR FROM HIM.

>> MY FINAL THOUGHT.

IT'S NEVER HELPFUL OR ACCURATE TO COMPARE ANYTHING TO THE HOLOCAUST.

ISRAEL.

THAT'S "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.