Gambling in The Mountain State - Updated

In the week since two of West Virginia's four racetracks began offering casino table games:

* The parent company of a third track reported a sharp fall in earnings for the recently completed third quarter. Penn National Gaming, owner of Charles Town Races & Slots, said it earned $108 million less than it had during that time last year, The Associated Press reports.

Much of the difference appears to stem from the 2006 sale of one of its other tracks, however. Charles Town is the only West Virginia track ineligible for table games, as Jefferson County voters rejected them.

* Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has signed legislation "banning skilled gambling machines that offer cash payouts or prizes as payouts worth more than $10," The Intelligencer of Wheeling reports (aided by AP dispatches).

"According to the Associated Press, the slot-like gambling machines spread across the state because of a legal loophole," the article said. "Strickland’s law strengthened the definition of the 'skill-based machines, even those at Chuck E. Cheese. The bill contained an emergency clause' that made the law effective as soon as the governor signed it Thursday."

Evoking the days when West Virginia was awash with video poker "grey" machines that routinely (and illegally) paid out, The Intelligencer spoke to the owner of two Ohio parlors who had 59 machines at his locations.

MetroNews also reports on the new Ohio law.

Update: Perhaps feeling left out, Maryland enters the fray with legislation to legalize slot machines, proposed by its governor for a special session that begins Monday. AP has details.