ISSUE 3: What’s Next For Columbus’ Casino?
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Casinos: What's Next?
Ohio voters said yes to casinos. So what?s next?
NBC 4
Ohio voters said yes to casinos Tuesday. So what’s next for the issue—and its opponents?
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Ohio voters said yes to casinos Tuesday. So what’s next for the issue—and its opponents?
With 99 percent of precincts reporting unofficial results, Issue 3 passed 53 percent to 47 percent, paving the way for the construction of casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.
Penn. National, the company that is behind the casinos, said it will spend $600 million between Columbus and Toledo to build two casinos.
The 300,000 square-foot Columbus casino is set for the Arena District on Nationwide Blvd. just west of Huntington Park.
The groundbreaking is scheduled for 2010, with the Hollywood Casino opening in 2012, NBC 4‘s Mike Bowersock reported.
It will look like the Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Indiana on the inside.
Nearby businesses are as against the measure the day after the vote as they were the day before the vote.
“I voted against it and, you know, I have mixed feelings about it because I’m not sure what the real effect is going to be,“ said Tom Selvagio, of Frog, Bear and Wild Boar.
Most skepticism about the casino is felt in the Arena District.
“We’re going to be working in partnership with area businesses,“ said Eric Schippers, of Penn National.
“Franklin County overwhelmingly voted against Issue 3 and I think we like the Arena District in Columbus. It’s the coolest part of the city in my opinion, and there’s a not of concern that a casino would really hurt the whole feel in the arena district,“ said Sandy Theis, of TruthPAC.
“We think this project is going to be a boom to the Arena District, despite claims by some that it will wipe out business,“ said Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman for the Ohio Jobs and Growth Committee.
Issue 3 opponents are discussing a new plan of attack in the wake of Issue 3’s passage.
Talks have begun on a plan that could see a 60 percent super-majority of state legislators from both the House and Senate agreeing to put another state constitutional amendment on the ballot as early as May.
The amendment changes could affect a variety of areas pertinent to Issue 3, including the tax rate and licensing fees that casinos pay, expanded background checks, a bidding process to allow more casinos than just the four approved Tuesday night. The changes could ensure that cash wagering is taxed and that church gaming fundraisers remain legal.
Gov. Ted Strickland, who was against the issue released a statement, saying, “While I am personally disappointed, I understand why Ohioans, who are struggling under the weight of this global recession, were willing to give this proposal a chance.
“The voters have spoken and state leaders and legislators must now implement the constitutional amendment while making sure it benefits the people of this state and puts more Ohioans to work.“
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Reader Reactions
buckgirl739,
it may not be your “fault” when someone blows their paycheck on gambling, but it can become your “problem” very easily if someone steals from you to fund further gambling.
Your “screw em if they can’t handle it” attitude is short sighted.
Its about time we grew out of the cow town image. And moved on with the rest of the country. I think it will help the local businesses in the area. Competition, is always good. As far as crime goes, the new casino will probably offset the statictics in a good way, with state of the art security that all casinos have. And hey, if your against the casino, then just go somewhere else.
I think bringing the casino to Columbus is a great idea. Other cities have been doing it for years. This will put Columbus more on the map, also it will make Columbus a more exciting and hip city. Those who are complaining about the casion will probaly be there as soon as the doors open. So please stop complaining and enjoy your city.
BTW, the people who say that more crime is okay because the city already has a lot of it is a horrible, illogical argument. Why anyone would promote that reasoning to support casinos is just shocking.
It is telling that it took 5 times to get this thing passed, and only in the worst economic situation since the Great Depression. It took desperation and trumped up talk about job creation for casino interests to jam this through. It’s too bad that desperate times allow people to make the types of decisions that ultimately put them worse off than they started. Ohio has major problems, but this is not going to be the answer. The facts against the issue were pretty clear, and they have nothing to do with morality. So gamble if you will, but years down the road when this deal is not the dream that everyone thought it’d be, who is going to be there to fix it then?
I am glad to see this pass. However, I heard on the news this morning where a group is filing legal action to stop this. Can they do that?
ryandlackey_1,
Or they are people who are tired of having to float the bill for people who are irresponsible with their money. You go bankrupt due to an addiction and I, as a tax payer have to pay for you and your family out of my tax dollar. Or maybe, we think it’s counter productive to work ethic. People work 10+ hr days and make half the money some schmo can pull a lever and win in five minutes. Casinos are games, and games are rewards for the responsible. Our state getting the lottery is the equivalent of a guy who is thousands of dollars in debt going to a slot machine and hoping he can win it all back and more. Good luck with that!
I believe that those who oppose gambling in ohio are religious extremists who want to control how other people live their lives. Get out of my life, zealots! You don’t like casino’s don’t go! Quit trying to tell other people what to do.
I agree with Gambler and any government big enough to give you every thing is big enough to take it away (Thomas Jefferson). The polititions are already corrupt and filled with drugs, prostitution, and robberies through taxes and over regulating. They took 5 times to get it. It will be longer and harder to get it out but with a lot of collateral damage. Crime families busted up and with higher cost to the tax pauer.
I won’t be patronizing the casinos. I don’t like to throw my money away. If someone else wants to do it, that’s OK by me. Buy why are we opening Ohio in this limited way? If we want to allow gambling, why not just let any business that wants to have gambling on its premises do so? Tax it, of course, but don’t give the opportunity to just these special groups.
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