State-Journal.com - Ohio says yes to casinos. Are we next?

Photo By APCleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, left, is congratulated by Tom Whatman, who ran the campaign team for Issue 3 Wednesday in Cleveland. Passage of Issue 3 marked a significant victory for Penn National Gaming Inc. and Gilbert, who spent nearly $35 million promoting four big-city casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo as the Ohio Jobs & Growth Plan. Tim Wilmott, president and CEO of Penn National Gaming, Inc., center, watches.

Local legislators say approval of casinos in Ohio will make the issue more urgent in Kentucky during the 2010 legislative session.

“I’m glad for Ohio and sorry for Kentucky,” said Rep. Carl Rollins, D-Midway. “We should have done it first. This just puts us further in the hole.”

With 91 percent of precincts reporting, the question passed 53 percent to 47 percent in Ohio Tuesday. The plan will include four casinos, or one each, in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.

Sen. Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort, said he “detests gaming as a source of revenue,” but it’s the only option besides raising taxes.

“It’s one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make in my public service career,” Carroll said. “We’ve got to have revenue to keep state government afloat.”

The vote in Ohio could have a devastating impact on Kentucky racetracks, he said. More than 70 race dates have already been cut and Kentucky purses are no longer competitive, Carroll said.

“It will be devastating to Kentucky if we don’t respond quickly,” he said.

The vote in Ohio says a lot about what states are doing to raise revenue during the recession, said Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort.

Rollins, Graham and Carroll support expanded gambling. It has been an issue in Kentucky for years, but bills have never gotten past the legislature. It is expected to be a major issue in the 2010 session because of a severe shortage of revenue.

The vote on Tuesday in Ohio was the fifth attempt by gambling supporters in the past two decades.

Unemployment in Ohio has topped 10 percent. A study commissioned by casino supporters predicted nearly 40,000 jobs and $4 billion in economic impact.

Ohio is the 39th state to legalize casinos and joined neighboring casino states Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The constitutional amendment taxes casino revenues at 33 percent and would distribute the funds to counties, cities, schools and gambling regulation and addiction services.

31.	Posted by Luanne November 5, 2009
	Tabo, I am glad your family is doing well here. They could probably tell you that other than Nevada and Atlantic City the Native American Nation is going to try to have these non NA casinos outlawed. The Native Americans are a Nation that happens to live in the U.S. and the gambling is one of the perks the U.S. Government entitled them with. In the places where only Native American gambling is allowed, people travel miles and even have groups on buses to have a good time gambling. Another perk is that there are still some folks that come to places like Oklahoma expecting to see tribe members in old west Indian dress. Of course almost every man in my town wears a real cowboy hat. Even people in suit and ties. So I am sure the tourists find that amusing. I bet your family likes the cost of living here compared to central KY. The summer's can be hot, but regular folks can still afford a house.

27.	Posted by jstivers2 November 4, 2009
	Posted by William S. about 7 hours ago Jim, you mentioned being opposed to the legalization of gambling because of the social costs, folks who would would harm themselves by becoming problem gamblers. Do you support the prohibition of alcohol and tobacco for those same reasons? Just because some folks can't handle it doesn't mean the rest of us shouldn't be able to do it in KY. It is my compassion for my fellow man. I do belive Tobacco and Alcohol are not served by the Commonwelath of Kentucky. I do believe that belongs to free enterprise. ITS CALLED CHOICES! My attempt is to mark the curves and pitfalls that could occur from gambling. If a drug dealer addicts you, is he responsible? If the state addicts you . . . is the state responsible? I am speaking of the addiction and whom should be responsable as the providor of the addiction. CHOICE. But,one should have some idea what you might be choosing before you buy into it. Why has the state never published any facts about the down side of gambling? The real facts. jas

25.	Posted by Vivian November 4, 2009
	I've got another spin on this gambling issue and who it affects. Look at the attached photo. Looks who is in it, a billionaire who owns the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA team and the other guys are rich lottery Execs who spent $35,000,000 to get it passed. Seems odd, rich people "high fiving" the passage of the gambling amendment? Do you think they are doing it because they are sooooo happy because all the tax revenue will be coming into Ohio State Government or is it because it will benefit and make their deep pockets even deeper? I think Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is smiling now that he will have enough money to pay and keep LeBron James in a Cavalier uniform? If gambling is so good, where are the photos of the middle and lower income Ohio Buckeyes jumping for joy?

24.	Posted by bstacy121 November 4, 2009
	People who want to gamble are going to gamble. They go to Alantic City, Vegas, go to the tracks, bet on ball games, have poker games at home or a back room somewhere. That's why there is a gamblers anonymous. Problem is when the Casino's come in they promise all kinds of perks that they don't live up to. Go two blocks away from the strip in Vegas or Alantic city. Crime and the homeless are outrageous. Someone said, let them build strip clubs instead, well they are all over Vegas and Alantic city. They seem to follow the Casino's. Yes, Kentucky can survive without them. Our Governor has tried since day one to shove these casino's down our throat. If he spent as much time trying to get manufacturing or other sources into Kentucky people wouldn't be so leary. As many have said the lottery funds aren't going where we were told. Our Education System is one of the lowest in the country. Our law enforcement is strapped now and would be over burdened with the increased patrols required. Just one womens opinion.