Struggling Ohio Opens Doors To Casinos
Published: November 3, 2009
Updated: November 4, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Ohio voters hit hard by the economic downturn have approved casinos on the fifth try by gambling supporters in the past two decades.
Tuesday’s vote is a significant victory for Penn National Gaming Inc. and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert.
They spent nearly $35 million to promote four casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.
Unemployment in Ohio has topped 10 percent. A study commissioned by the campaign predicted nearly 40,000 jobs and $4 billion in economic impact.
Voters approved amending the Ohio Constitution with details on where casinos could be built and how to distribute generated tax revenues to various agencies.
With 91 percent of precincts reporting, the question passed 53 percent to 47 percent.
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Reader Reactions
I have never dealt with an addiction but I have incredible admiration for a person that can stay sober (after alcoholism) despite seeing it advertised every where and it being readily available nearly everywhere. And I don’t want another group of addicts to have to have to summon up that same amount of self control despite the advertising being right in their face and the facility a block away. And honestly, I might feel a little differently if we were voting to make it illegal if it already were legal. But we are giving the go ahead nod to something that wasn’t here and now will be. I’m not sure I would vote to take it away, but I certainly feel like we don’t have to provide it where it wasn’t before. And I’m glad you brought up pills because that’s actually a really good analogy. We are allowed drugs that hurt us, but our gov’t intervenes when they are abused and cause addictions, and more importantly makes illegal the drugs that cause more harm than they provide good. I’m just not sure that casinos aren’t more like heroin than they are benadryl.
I understand where you are coming from, but the gambling is done behind closed doors not right in your very own living room. You won’t see it unless you physically walk into the casino. You won’t eat the banana pudding right in front of Pop but you would more than likely eat it somewhere else when he is not around. These same arguments can be made about alcohol, you wouldn’t drink in front of an alcoholic or take them to a bar with you, but you more than likely are not going to stop drinking because of that when you are not with the alcoholic. The fact is that you can’t take away every enjoyment and entertainment that is available to people because some decide to abuse it. This same argument goes for a lot of different things; medicines, you can’t take away pain relievers, because some abuse it. It doesn’t matter what it is, somewhere, someone is going to abuse it. You can’t protect everyone from themselves.
Okay, let me propose this analogy: Pop is allergic to yellow dye #5. Turns out all banana pudding is made with yellow dye. Banana pudding is pop’s favorite, but if he eats it he breaks out really bad, gets a fever and all kinds of other bad things. Because we are respectful of him, we have chosen to not eat it in our house because we don’t want him to have to sit and watch us eat something that he loves but hurts him. You can make the argument that gambling is our God-given right, but really it’s an entertainment industry. It’s icing on a cake (yellow dye #5), but it isn’t something we can’t do without. If it’s going to cause negative impact on our neighbors can’t we be respectful enough to forego the pudding for their sakes?... I mean casinos
I agree 100% that our economy is the way it is because people were/are irresponsible with their money. But we as a society should not be forced to hold other peoples hands so that they will do the right thing with their own money. Should everyone be punished because some Joe Shmo’s decide that they want to spend their entire families savings on gambling? We cannot force people to do the right thing, but we also cannot visit that problem on other people. There are many people that clearly take advantage of welfare, but do we punish all welfare receivers for it, no. Here is another way to look at it…Children for the most part all love candy and will eat it until they puke so do you 1. never give them candy again because they are not responsible enough to have it or 2. teach them to be responsible with the candy and that too much of even a good thing has it’s consequences. Most people will take option #2. You shouldn’t punish everyone as a whole because of a few irresponsible people.
Of course I’m not serious. It was meant to be a satirical analogy of how lowering ethical standards in order to create jobs and generate economic growth is not acceptable.
Patriots, you have far too much faith in people!! It is because so many people are irresponsible with their money that our economy is what it is now. Our gov’t at large is not responsible enough to spend its money responsibly. And you think that we as a state have the responsibility to have a casino and that the people who can’t afford to go won’t? And do you really think that the people that can’t afford to go but do anyway are only hurting themselves?
Games are a reward to responsible people, and we as a country and as a state have not proven ourselves nearly responsible enough to deserve to play. Gambling should be for entertainment only, but how do you enforce that? And what of the families that suffer at the hands of an addict? Jobs are a great thing, but we have to weigh the negative consequences of things, and I’m afraid this scale is just far too tilted towards the destructive corner. Plus, again, it’s bad work ethic!!
really, you can’t be serious with legalizing child sex trafficking. you obviously do not have any children and if you do I feel sorry for them, as well as you too. it REALLY says alot about the type of person you are. REALLY!!!!!
I am thrilled that this passed!! I am not a gambler, but our state could definitely use the jobs and extra income.
I don’t see where this has anything to do with morals. This is something that if done maturely and responsibly can be fun and beneficial to all. For the people that are saying this is going to cause divorces and hurt families already struggling…if you can barely or can’t pay your bills you have no business being in a casino!!! COMMON SENSE! If you are spending money in a casino that you don’t have to spend then you are ignorant. Again this is an entertainment for mature people. People need to be responsible and use common sense when it comes to gambling. For those who are against it no one will ever make you set foot in the casino, but you will still reap all the benefits that come with it. Gambling should be for entertainment only, this is not something that should be your career and your only source of income, because you will be severly disappointed and broke.
Casinos are about people taking a chance on winning some money, same as they do when they buy lottery tickets.
I AGREE CITY CENTER COULD BE FIXED UP AND MADE INTO A CASINO AND NO ONE WOULD HAVE TO FIGHT FOR PARKING EITHER
You have a point, we do already have all these in ohio, a casino just gives more space for them to hang out. Sorry if I offended you.
It is kind of sad. We totally got a raw deal because people are scared about the economy. This will end up being very disappointing and not help out with much in the long haul. I am not against casinos in this state, but I was against this deal. I think you all should have talked it over a bit more and ASKED relevant questions!!! I just cannot believe that this passed. Oh well - the brilliant, well-educated, and thoughtful Ohio voters have spoken.
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