Cavs Owner Gilbert Argues Past Arrest Not An Issue In Issue 3 Debate

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert visited Columbus Wednesday with just six days remaining before Ohio voters decide Issue 3, which would bring four new casinos to Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo and Cincinnati. Gilbert would own the Toledo and Cleveland casinos if Issue 3 passes, and Issue 3 opponents question whether Gilbert’s past renders him unfit to run a casino.

A television ad by opposition group TruthPAC states that Gilbert was “arrested for running an illegal bookmaking operation in Michigan.“

The 1981 bookmaking arrest occurred while Gilbert was a student at Michigan State University. No charges were filed as Gilbert agreed to pay a fine and perform community service. The incident was removed from his record.

“There was never anything ever exchanged. No money was exchanged, not a single dollar, not a penny,“ Gilbert said. “It was stuff that was written down on paper on a wall or something. And that’s why it was dismissed. That’s why there’s no record, and that’s why there’s no issue.“

Newspaper accounts of the arrest quote police indicating the bookmaking operation handled $114,000. Gilbert declined Wednesday to provide greater details of the incident, saying he felt he already had discussed the subject enough.

“If people are going to look at things from thirty years ago that didn’t result in any kind of record or any kind of conviction or any kind of infraction that’s on any record… we’re talking about teenage college students who were involved in something as harmless as a poker game. And they think the voters of Ohio are naïve and dumb enough to believe things like that effect this campaign, most people see through that, not all people.“

Gilbert said voters should base their decision on the jobs that Issue 3 would created and the gambling dollars it would keep in Ohio.

Also Wednesday, the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association protested Issue 3 by circling the streets outside the Ohio Statehouse with horse trailers. The group argues the casinos would kill horse racing jobs that could be saved if Ohio allows video slot machines at race tracks.

In another development, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman cast his ballot Wednesday against Issue 3. Coleman is not actively campaigning against the issue, but a spokesperson told NBC4 he felt it created a monopoly and would pose zoning issues.

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