Ohio Residents Continue Strong Support for Casinos, Freedom

Poll numbers in Ohio show that residents support the freedom to choose to partake of casino gambling, even if they don't expect to do so themselves.

A new poll by the University of Cincinnati says 70 percent of southwest Ohioans are behind the licensing of casinos throughout the state. Interestingly, 83 percent of state residents say they wouldn't visit casinos once they are legal.

Overall, residents of the entire state come in at 56 percent in favor of allowing casino gambling, almost two-to-one over the opposition. The heaviest support lies through the more urbanized area running from Cleveland in the northeast to Cincinnati in the southwest, with the areas most opposed to casinos being the more rural northwest and southeast.

But the high number saying they would not use the service reveals an important distinction to Online Casino Advisory gambling analyst Sherman Bradley.

"With a large number of the state's citizens saying they support legalizing casinos but denying they would gamble, it becomes apparent that Ohio residents are supporting individual freedom," says Bradley. "Allowing others their choice, even if it is different from our own, is the cornerstone of US democracy."

Early voting on casino licensing, which is on the November ballot, begins Tuesday. Absentee ballots can be requested through noon of Halloween, and November 2nd is the last day mailed ballots will be accepted.