Ohio Casino Issue Passes Despite Furious Resistance
Anti-gambling factions in Ohio have managed to rally enough voters to polls to prevent the state from legalizing casino gaming for over twenty years, but times have changed for the Buckeye State. Yesterday, 53 percent of voters elected to establish four casino licenses in Ohio's four biggest cities.
Polls had shown that nearly 60 percent of the population favored implementing casino gambling, so the drop on voting day indicates a strong turnout by opponents of expanded gaming. But outside factors drew new supporters to the casino cause.
The coalition pushing the bill was named Ohio Growth and Jobs to remind the electorate of the projected 34,000 jobs created by licensing the four casinos. And state revenues will increase as local gamblers keep their money home, rather than carrying it to Indiana, West Virginia, or Michigan.
"They wanted casinos in urban cores that would spark development, they wanted jobs, they wanted new construction, they wanted the taxes to stay local, and we're going to make sure it happens here," said Dan Gilbert, the founder of Quicken Loans, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and a leading candidate for one of the casino licenses.
The opposition has said it might try to force referendums in each city slated for a casino, but the state polls had shown casino and gambling support heaviest in urban areas, like the cities expecting licenses.
