March 10, 200520 yr its too much and it all sounds pretty desperate to me. i doubt this is allowed. seems like outside of ne ohio nobody wants it: State vote on casinos is proposed Staff And Wire Reports 03/10/2005 A statewide vote being proposed by Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell that would allow casino gambling in Ohio's larger cities would include not only Elyria and Lorain, but also Erie County because it is home to tourist-magnet Cedar Point. The ballot initiative aimed for the November election sidesteps ties to Indian tribes and would allow cities with more than 50,000 people and counties with ''entertainment attractions'' that draw more than 1 million tourists a year to vote on casinos, according to Gerry Austin, a political adviser to Campbell who has handled several high-profile campaigns. According to the 2000 census, Elyria and Lorain were among 18 cities with more than 50,000 people, and besides Cedar Point the inclusion of counties with attractions that draw a million-plus tourists a year also would permit casino gambling in Warren County, where Paramount's Kings Island is located. A second initiative being proposed by Campbell to amend the Ohio Constitution would permit slot machines at the state's horse racetracks if their communities approve, and Austin said that was intended to dilute the racetracks' opposition to sharing gambling dollars with casinos. More at http://www.morningjournal.com/
March 10, 200520 yr its too much and it all sounds pretty desperate to me. i doubt this is allowed. seems like outside of ne ohio nobody wants it: This is being strongly pushed by Bill Seitz, a state representative from Cincinnati. Also included are Cincinnati mayor Charlie Luken. Trust me, there is support throughout the state.
March 11, 200520 yr Casinos? Don't bet on it, says Voinovich Senator vows to fight gambling proposals for Cleveland, Lorain Friday, March 11, 2005 Stephen Koff Plain Dealer Bureau Chief Washington- Sen. George Voinovich pledges to work vehemently against casino plans in Ohio, setting up a political showdown with the pro-gambling mayors of Cleveland and Lorain. "If this thing raises its head, we're going to go out there and chop it off," Voinovich said in an interview Thursday. The Republican senator said he was "working with some other people" but would not name them or detail his plans. Voinovich released a three-page letter he wrote to Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell on Feb. 15, in which he said gambling destroys families, boosts crime and drains dollars that would otherwise be spent on cars, appliances and other goods. He wrote a nearly identical letter to Lorain Mayor Craig Foltin on Feb. 22. More at http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer
March 11, 200520 yr I am not really for them or against them. I am just more perplexed when I think that this is what it has come to. I wish we had good jobs pouring into the Ohio cities like SanDiego and Seattle does. I wish casino's weren't an issue. But we have to do what we have to do.
March 11, 200520 yr This is being strongly pushed by Bill Seitz, a state representative from Cincinnati. Also included are Cincinnati mayor Charlie Luken. the cleveland area newspapers never mention cinci support. it still aint enough. the rest of the state dont want no steenkin casinos.
March 12, 200520 yr more opposition today. the mayor has a point, but its not enough: Senator vows he'll fight Ohio gambling Staff And Wire Reports 03/12/2005 LORAIN -- The Las Vegas-style gambling resort planned for Lorain's lakefront is being opposed by U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, who informed Mayor Craig Foltin that he has already moved to try to block federal approval of Indian casinos in Ohio. ''Mayor, I have grave concerns about efforts to bring gambling to Lorain,'' Voinovich wrote to Foltin last month. ''I remain steadfast in my belief that the tremendous costs to Ohio families far outweigh the benefits of casino gambling.'' Voinovich wrote a similar letter to Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell, saying gambling can destroy families, boost crime and drain dollars that would otherwise be spent on cars, appliances and other goods. Lorain envisions a $100 million destination resort anchored by casino-hotels owned and operated by the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, contingent both on state approval of Class III gaming like blackjack, slot machines and craps tables, and on the tribe being able to operate under federal gaming laws. Campbell also favors establishing casinos in her city, but she wants to sidestep Indian tribes and have a statewide initiative in November to amend the Ohio Constitution and allow voters in larger cities and tourism centers decide whether to permit an expansion of gambling. In his Feb. 22 letter to Foltin, Voinovich noted that Indian casinos are governed by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, which he said prohibits the use of land for Indian casinos unless specific conditions are met. More at http://www.morningjournal.com/
March 13, 200520 yr PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!PRETTY PLEASE WITH SUGAR ON TOP!!!!!!! Let us have our freakin casinos and everyone will see what it can do for all of us. If you don't like casinos then don't go to the damn things. Don't ruin it for everyone else. This public service announcement is directed to Ohio Legislators.
March 13, 200520 yr Did anyone else go to the Casino panel at CSU March 10th? The two speakers were Mark Rosenstraub from CSU and Robin Boyle from Wayne State University in Detroit. Both came off as generally neutral, as far as the subject relates to Ohio and did a fair job of presenting the facts to the audience. Their objective was not to put forward an agenda, but to set the table. There were deficiencies in their presentation...namely, the effect that the casinos have had on personal debt, mental health, etc. However, they had lots of data on the economic impact that they have had on the City of Detroit, in particular, and on the economic effects that nearby casinos have on Ohio residents. I don't have all the stats, but something like $400 million Ohio dollars are spent at nearby casinos. In Detroit, based on a survey of 9,099 casino patrons at two casinos, 1,887 respondents (21%) were from outside of the tri-county area and over 600 were from Ohio. Of these, about 30% were from Cuyahoga County. Detroit's casinos haven't spurred significant economic development around their sites, but they have re-used existing buildings (all three) and the tax dollars and jobs are their most significant impacts. Casinos in Detroit are the city's sixth largest employer, and the second largest non-public employer (only Chrysler is larger). They also have an agreement to employ at least 51% local (Detroit) labor. Vendors and suppliers from the Detroit and Southeast Michigan area were responsible for 62% of the products consumed in the casinos. And the impact that casino tax input has on the local budget is quite significant, though I can't recall the figure. From the facts that were presented, I guess we can surmise that the speakers were probably pro-casino, but they were just presenting the facts as they knew them. You can bet (he, he) that other speakers could produce all the negative stats that opponents want to hear, so take this for what it's worth. There were probably about 200 or so people in attendance, which is nice to see, and I was happy to be one of them!
March 14, 200520 yr Merged for Mister Good Day. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
March 23, 200520 yr A recent article from the 3/23/05 Akron Beacon Journal: Casino foes vow they'll hold 'em Players on both sides claim they have Ohio's best interests in mind By Dennis J. Willard and Doug Oplinger Beacon Journal staff writers COLUMBUS - Two days before gambling proponents are to meet privately in an attempt to agree on a strategy to create casinos in Ohio, the leader of an opposition group that twice successfully fought efforts to expand gambling vowed a three-peat this year. David Zanotti, Ohio Roundtable president, said Tuesday his coalition was back, stronger than ever, and prepared to convince voters that casinos are not the cure to the economic problems facing the state. Zanotti led campaigns in 1990 and 1996 to oppose statewide ballot issues that would have allowed casino gambling into the state. He also has been outspoken each time the legislature has entertained the idea of allowing slot machines at the state's seven horse racing tracks. U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, state Attorney General Jim Petro, and pastors and community leaders from areas where tribal Indian casinos may be opened appeared with Zanotti at the news conference. Full story at http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/local/11207644.htm
March 24, 200520 yr From the Dover-New Philadelphia Times-Reporter, 3/24/05: The old Republic facility on Oberlin Ave. SW in Massillon is one of the proposed sites for a casino in Stark County. Copley Ohio Newspapers Former steel mill proposed as casino site By ROBERT WANG, Copley Ohio Newspapers Writer CANTON – A former steel complex in Massillon is one of at least two Stark County sites where an Indian tribe is considering building a casino, a Canton businessman said Wednesday. Steve DiPietro, the owner of Skyland Pines, Papa Bear’s and Pizza Oven restaurants, said he asked the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma last year to consider Stark County as a place to build a gaming resort. “Stark County has a lot of illegal gaming going on anyhow, so why not?” he said, adding that jobs resulting from the casino would help offset the loss of manufacturing jobs. “It would be a boon for our local economy. And if it’s not here, it’s going to go someplace else.” The tribe, which says its ancestors were forced out of Ohio, has been negotiating agreements around the state to buy land for casinos in the event legal issues over Indian-run gambling facilities are resolved. The tribe would like to operate five to 18 casinos in Ohio. Full article at http://www.timesreporter.com/left.php?ID=39741&r=2
March 25, 200520 yr ...and the proponents, from the 3/25/05 Enquirer: Gambling proponents unite Various interests focus on goals for Ohio By Jim Siegel Enquirer Columbus Bureau COLUMBUS - Top gambling supporters from across the state walked out of a three-hour meeting Thursday unified in their desire to get an expanded gambling measure on the ballot. "I'm optimistic because everybody was committed to sticking together and being loyal to one another because we realize the opposition is fierce," Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken said after a first-ever meeting of state lawmakers, city mayors, developers, Indian tribes, and horse track and casino representatives. Rep. Bill Seitz, R-Green Township, who organized the closed-door meeting, said there was a "surprising degree of unanimity" among the 60 participants. Past attempts to convince the legislature and the voters to back slot machines or full casinos in Ohio have lacked such coordinated support. Casino developers and horse track owners in particular have clashed over how and where Ohio should expand gambling beyond bingo, horse racing and the lottery. Full story at http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050325/NEWS01/503250383/1077/news01
March 25, 200520 yr at least the topic gets the state politicos collaborating on something for a change, eh? here's another take from up northeast: Gambling proponents leaning toward state vote, mayor says Staff And Wire Reports 03/25/2005 COLUMBUS -- Although it helped the overall goal of bringing casinos to the state, Lorain Mayor Crag Foltin said yesterday's unprecedented summit on trying to expand gambling in Ohio didn't quite go the city's way because the consensus seems to be for a statewide vote on the issue. ''It seems to be leaning toward a statewide vote that allows voters in Ohio to choose,'' said Foltin, who prefers more limited approval for a gaming compact with the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma to help pave the way for Lorain's casino-resort project. ''I guess they are going to try and convince them that way.'' More at http://www.morningjournal.com/
March 26, 200520 yr Casinos sure turned around Detroit. I mean their population even grew. :roll: What makes people think casinos will do well for Ohio? They should focus on real reforms like tax cuts, and perhaps a right-to-work law. That might create employment in sectors that actually do good things for Ohioans. Oh no, those are evil conservative concepts! Better to run our state into the ground than that! :drunk: The saddest part is that we are actually having this discussion of legalizing gambling in the first place. Have we fallen as far as New Orleans? Detroit? I think if Bob Taft had cut taxes and spending during the last recession instead of raising them, we might have 200,000 more jobs right now, and better prospects for the future.
March 26, 200520 yr What makes people think casinos will do well for Ohio? The 90% of plates at SE Indiana casinos that say "Ohio". You know, the people who are allowing for Argosy's $150 million expansion at Lawrenceburg. You know, no one's calling casinos a salvation here, even its strongest proponents. They just figure that if Ohioans are going to leave the state to spend money, wouldn't it be better if they spent it here? As for your first comment, again, no one's calling for salvation. And Detroit has more problems than one casino can fix, and you know it.
March 26, 200520 yr So what if some money from Ohio goes into the casinos in Indiana? That's not unlawful. That's just how the economy works. We make some goods/services, others make other goods/services. I'm not against gambling. I've been to Vegas many times, although not to gamble which is a foolish activity. I just don't want that crap in my state. I don't want 1000 Mexican guys on the streets handing out postcards for hookers. I don't want senior citizens inserting their social security checks into slot machines. Your obsessing about a small amount of money Ohioans spend in Michigan and Indiana casinos. THink about how much money altogether Ohioans would waste away in gambling if there were casinos closer by, with multiple locations in our own state. Sure, some of that money would create employment for blackjack dealers, cocktail waitresses, toilet scrubbers, etc. but much of it would flow to out of state gambling concerns. And a lot of the wealth of Ohioans, I think predominantly lower-middle class Ohioans and Seniors would be wasted away in the casinos. I don't want that crap in my state. If we were to advance your argument: Pedophiles go to other countries to hump little boys, countries where the cops turn the other way in response to that kind of activity. Maybe we should legalize man-boy love here in Ohio? Surely that will be good for the economy.
March 26, 200520 yr Ky is building a head of steam at turfway. Ohio better start it get it's act together.
March 26, 200520 yr Monroe Casino Issue On Nov. Ballot Reported by: Deb Silverman Last updated: 3/25/2005 - 5:49:38 PM Some who oppose a casino in Monroe might be saying they hit the jackpot. They've gathered enough signatures to get the issue on the November ballot. But the Monroe city manager says the winning side might not have the final say. The board of elections has certified more than 400 signatures, more than double the number needed to get the referendum on the ballot. Those opposed to the casino along I-75 want voters to strike down Monroe city council's proposed agreement with the native american tribe. The agreement gives the city 1.5% of the tribe's electronic gaming revenue. The money would be shared with Butler and Warren counties and schools. City manager Bill Brock says fighting the proposal is a gamble. He says the state and federal government can approve the project, and if the city doesn't have the agreement, Monroe could be left out of the deal entirely, and be out millions of dollars. Full story at http://www.wcpo.com/news/2005/local/03/25/monroe.html
March 26, 200520 yr So what if some money from Ohio goes into the casinos in Indiana? That's not unlawful. That's just how the economy works. We make some goods/services, others make other goods/services. I'm not against gambling. I've been to Vegas many times, although not to gamble which is a foolish activity. I just don't want that crap in my state. I don't want 1000 Mexican guys on the streets handing out postcards for hookers. I don't want senior citizens inserting their social security checks into slot machines. Mexican guys are not handing out postcards for hookers in SE Indiana. There hasn't even been a marked difference in crime. People drive to the casino, gamble, get in their cars, and go home. As for the senior citizens, they're doing that NOW! Your obsessing about a small amount of money Ohioans spend in Michigan and Indiana casinos. THink about how much money altogether Ohioans would waste away in gambling if there were casinos closer by, with multiple locations in our own state. Sure, some of that money would create employment for blackjack dealers, cocktail waitresses, toilet scrubbers, etc. but much of it would flow to out of state gambling concerns. And a lot of the wealth of Ohioans, I think predominantly lower-middle class Ohioans and Seniors would be wasted away in the casinos. I don't want that crap in my state. A small amount of money? One casino brings in $30 million a month. It is estimated that one casino, Argosy (which I will use as an example because it's easier to find figures for them), has generated $279 million dollars of local economic activity in the 8 years they have been open. They've paid about $19 million directly to Lawrenceburg (a gift), and they've sent multiple millions out to the rest of the state. They've paid $554 million in wages since opening and employ over 2,000. In fact, the only negative social costs generally mentioned are those coming with a gentrified/upscale community--property taxes becoming too high and the poor being forced out. Oh yeah--that and the traffic. And again, you've done nothing to address the fact that the lower-middle class and the elderly are going out of the state and gambling anyway. What do you propose the state of Ohio do to help? And what are your thoughts on the lottery, horse racing, dog racing, bingo, etc.? If we were to advance your argument: Pedophiles go to other countries to hump little boys, countries where the cops turn the other way in response to that kind of activity. Maybe we should legalize man-boy love here in Ohio? Surely that will be good for the economy. That's not a similar argument, and you know it. Stop being so sensational. BTW, here's a non-biased report on Argosy Casino in Lawrenceburg, if you'd care to read it. It's from the Center for Public Policy and the Environment out of Indianapolis: http://www.in.gov/gaming/reports/evaluations/argosy-8.pdf
March 26, 200520 yr I will quote my previous reply in response to some recent posts: something like $400 million Ohio dollars are spent at nearby casinos Another thing that came up at the casino panel at CSU earlier this month was that when Indiana voters approved the gambling initiative and casino construction ensued, it was focused primarily on the state's borders, away from Indiana residents...close to Ohio residents. Now that's a strategy! And it's an interesting twist on NIMBY (not in my backyard) proponents, where Indiana voters may say, "we don't want that junk near our residents, but we'd sure like the money that it'll bring in!" So, they built it in their backyard (technically), but in reality it's a hell of a lot closer to loads of Ohio residents who had no say in the matter. So, Indiana can just ignore the possibility that there are any negatives because they're only felt by out-of-staters. Kinda messed up if you ask me! (I know this is an oversimplification and will accept corrections or clarifications!)
March 31, 200520 yr Our weekly casino story, from the 3/30/05 Cincinnati Post (AP): Casino promoters map out glossy strategies By John Seewer The Associated Press Developers and city leaders who want to bring gambling to Ohio are mapping out sites for casinos and showing off drawings of how these glitzy buildings could transform downtowns. It's all part of their strategy to sway public support for gambling in a state where voters twice have overwhelmingly rejected casinos. Lorain Mayor Craig Foltin, who has been promoting colorful casino plans after announcing the city has entered into an agreement to sell land to an American Indian tribe, said the excitement has been growing. Casinos have become the talk of the community since word spread that a former steel mill complex in Massillon was being considered as a casino site, said Steve DiPietro, a Canton businessman behind the proposal. "It's part of the educational process," said Terry Casey, a consultant for the Eastern Shawnee tribe, which wants to put casinos near at least four Ohio cities: Botkins, Lorain, Lordstown and Monroe. The tribe has agreed to a two-year option for a $6 million purchase of 6 acres of lakefront property in Lorain and will pay $285,000 in options over two years. There's a feeling among gambling supporters that it's only a matter of time before casinos come to the state. They say the timing is right because the state's manufacturing economy is struggling and Ohio will soon be surrounded by gambling in its border states. Full story at http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050330/NEWS01/503300407/1056
April 10, 200520 yr The Enquirer/WCPO has started a 6-part series on casinos and their possible impact on Cincinnati: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=newsgamble
April 10, 200520 yr I have to think that as more and more casinos are built, they will be less and less of a tourist draw. There won't be any reason to go to Cleveland or Cincinnati for casinos, because every town around them will have casinos as well. Already 80% of the people attending Detroit's casinos are from the 3 counties surrounding Detroit. Pretty soon, casinos will be like any other entertainment venue. People might go to them while they are in town, but they won't travel to gamble. The casinos will be getting nearly all of their money from the local populace. I don't know if this means we should or shouldn't do casinos, but its an aspect of this issue that hasn't really made it into the discussion yet.
April 10, 200520 yr ^ Very true, you rarely hear that angle. The way it's looking, whoever gets in first is going to pull in a lot of money before casinos end up being in every town. Maybe that's why it seems like pro-casino folks are willing to bend over backwards to make it happen.
April 11, 200520 yr X, Those are great points. I would like to see a casino in Cleveland the dovetails with the new convention center. Cleveland needs to provide an incentive for conventions to come to the city and casinos are still rare enough to provide that incentive. While this would never happen, I would want the casino to be run by some quasi-governmental agency that collects all the profits and sends them to the city schools, economic development programs and arts programs.
April 12, 200520 yr There will be a ridiculous amount of tax revenues from casino gambling going into city coffers to spend on schools and other public projects, but this is in my humble opinion the only good that can come of their addition to any of our cities. They aren't going to be attractions to anyone far outside of our metropolitan regions, as X stated earlier. They will simply keep our people's dollars here. And as far as casinos being instigators for further investment nearby...I'm not really optimistic about that either. They're kind of islands unto themselves. And I don't know about a casino being a draw for a convention...possible, but I guess it depends on the group.
April 25, 200520 yr More casino talk...wake me when there's actual new news on this... Secret investors fund casino effort; no money from tribe Are grandmas funding high rollers? By Jaclyn Giovis and Ben Sutherly Dayton Daily News DAYTON | Investors hoping to bring Indian casinos to Ohio have hired lobbyists, lawyers and architects in a high-stakes bid to convince government officials and the public that more gambling would be good for the state. But the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, whose interest in Ohio triggered the massive lobbying effort, hasn't spent any of its own money. Instead, 45 unidentified investors — most of them from west and central Ohio — each have contributed between $10,000 and $50,000, said Tom Schnippel, a general contractor from Botkins and president of National Capital I, the Delaware-based company exploring the Shawnees' opportunities in Ohio. He described the investors as grandmas, firefighters and school teachers. Some observers question the suggestion that grandmas and such are bankrolling the Shawnees' lobbying efforts. "I'm suspicious," said Blake Watson, a University of Dayton law professor and former U.S. Justice Department attorney who handled cases involving Indian gaming. Individuals who invest in such efforts tend to be "incredibly wealthy people," he said. Full story at http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/0424casino.html
April 29, 200520 yr Argosy has now announced that the expansion will be $250 million. They have raised it from $150 million. It should be complete in 2007.
May 4, 200520 yr From the Beacon Journal/Ohio.com, 4/29/05: Gambling advocates set up poll By Dennis J. Willard and Doug Oplinger Beacon Journal staff writers COLUMBUS - A loose-knit coalition of advocates for expanded gambling met privately with key Ohio lawmakers for a second time in Columbus on Thursday. During the three-hour meeting, about 30 people representing casino developers, horse racing interests, restaurant and tavern owners, local government officials, Indian gaming groups and charitable gambling organizations worked on a rough draft of a poll to gauge opinions statewide about gambling. State Rep. Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, said the meeting was constructive. "It took three hours because you have disparate groups and they want to have their questions asked a certain way,'' Seitz said. Neil Clark, a statehouse lobbyist who represents the horse-racing industry, hosted the meeting in his office near Capital square. He said no decision was made on hiring an outside firm to conduct the poll, and that more work will be done in the next week to finalize poll questions. "We're not there yet. We still have a lot more work,'' Clark said. Full story at http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/state/11520615.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_state
May 10, 200520 yr There was a pretty good (albeit long) article on Ohio.com about the Soaring Eagle casino in Michigan and how Lordstown folks are looking at that as the model of what they envision. Here's the link (requires password): http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/11600457.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news
May 13, 200520 yr From the 5/13/05 Dayton Daily News: Shawnee make claim to Ohio land By Steve Bennish Dayton Daily News In its bid to secure gaming rights in Ohio, the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma has contacted state Attorney General Jim Petro to discuss this month what the tribe calls "substantial legal claims" to aboriginal lands in southwestern and central Ohio. Kim Norris, spokeswoman for Petro's office, said Thursday the meeting request is being reviewed. "The attorney general remains very skeptical of any land claims in the state," Norris said. "He's not in favor of any attempts to extend gambling to Ohio." Winning tribal land in Ohio would be the first step required of the federally recognized Shawnee to establish a casino here. The tribe has proposed opening several casinos, and has local agreements with the Shelby County village of Botkins, Monroe in Butler County and Lorain and Lordstown in northeastern Ohio. Full story at http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/0513landclaims.html
May 14, 200520 yr The standards are some 320,000 signatures. If passed in the state legislature I think, any city of 50,000 or more will have the city citizens vote on whether a Casino will be placed in the city limits or not. I love this a lot. I am a Republican but downtown Youngstown needs that 1 more thing to make it sweet. A casino at the abandoned steel mill, no they will tear it down and build a big one, on the south side of downtown next to the new arena would be ideal. Just imagine all those people at the casino and they want to see a concert or a game, you walk 5 minutes and you will be at the arena. Will make Downtown Youngstown to what it once was. And it would pass in the most democratic city in ohio for sure. :lol: I think this deserves its own thread. So here it is. Now that would hurt the plans to build one in the western side of Ohio on some large amount of land and the planned Ohio Turnpike Casino off of 80 in Lordstown. I personally think one in a city will be better for most towns.
May 19, 200520 yr From the 5/19/05 Akron Beacon Journal: Casinos would cut into bingo proceeds Data, interviews show Ohio's lottery, charities, Catholic schools stand to lose By Doug Oplinger and Dennis J. Willard Beacon Journal staff writers If casino gambling comes to Ohio, some of the biggest losers could be public and private schools, the Catholic Church, sports and band boosters, humane societies and firefighters. Those groups derive significant income from legalized gambling: $600 million from the Ohio Lottery for schools and $80 million to $90 million from charitable bingo for a variety of organizations. Interviews with veteran gamblers show many make periodic trips to casinos just outside Ohio, and if casinos were closer to home, some might abandon local charitable bingo in favor of for-profit casinos. A data analysis by the Akron Beacon Journal shows Ohio Lottery sales and bingo revenue have suffered disproportionately in areas of Ohio that are a short drive from casinos in neighboring West Virginia and Indiana. As advocates of casinos hold meetings and assemble a proposal to introduce a range of gaming -- from slot machines to full-blown casinos -- into Ohio, they have had little discussion about protecting existing gambling interests, including the Ohio Lottery. Only veterans' organizations, which represent a minuscule piece of legalized gambling and want to install slot machines at their clubs, have been represented at the meetings. Full article at http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/11683969.htm?source=rss&channel=ohio_news
May 19, 200520 yr The good thing about this DYI "parish hall" nonprofit bingo (if it still works like it used to) is that 100% of the money stays in the community.
May 21, 200520 yr Casino gambling petition drive kicks off Business Courier of Cincinnati Friday, May 20, 2005 The mayor of Cleveland, and other casino gambling backers, have started a petition drive to force a statewide referendum allowing cities to decide whether to allow casinos. Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell and political adviser Jerry Austin announced this week that the political action group Ohioans for a Local Option would try to get 322,899 valid signatures of registered voters by Aug. 10 to place a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution on the Nov. 8 ballot, according to published reports. Indian tribes, racetrack owners, lawmakers and others who want to attract casinos also are working on plans to put the issue on the ballot, either by legislation or initiative. Gov. Bob Taft opposes casino gambling, and Ohio voters have twice rejected casino gambling issues since 1990. The amendment backed by Campbell would allow home-rule cites that are county seats, or that have at least 50,000 residents, to vote on whether they want casinos. Counties with an entertainment attraction that draws more than 1 million tourists a year -- including Paramount's Kings Island in Warren County and Cedar Point in Erie County -- would also be allowed a casino vote. Full article at http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2005/05/16/daily44.html
May 21, 200520 yr even if it gets on the ballot it will get slaughtered at the polls again. waste of time. fix the city mayor!
May 22, 200520 yr From the 5/22/05 Plain Dealer: Ohioans give edge to casinos Sunday, May 22, 2005 Tom Breckenridge Plain Dealer Reporter A slim majority of Ohioans would allow casinos in the state, and that support rises with the prospect of using gambling profits for tax relief, education or local communities, a Plain Dealer poll shows. The results also give Mayor Jane Campbell a reason to smile – 55 percent of respondents back the mayor’s effort to change the Ohio Constitution and let big cities decide if they want Las Vegas-style gambling. But poll watchers say the results are by no means a sure bet for casinos. It’s not clear if any ballot issues will go before voters this year or next. And if they do, they will face a hard-hitting opposition that could turn some of the poll’s “yes” votes and most of the undecideds into “no” votes, analysts said. “Opponents have a real prospect to grow the ‘no’ vote,” said John Green, director of the Ray C. Bliss Institute for Applied Politics at the University of Akron. The poll of 1,500 Ohioans was conducted May 12-17 by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research of Washington, D.C. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points. Full article at http://www.cleveland.com/ohio/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1116754459201052.xml&coll=2
May 31, 200520 yr From the 5/31/05 Toledo Blade: Casinos face tough sales job in towns Smaller cities could decide gambling issue By ROBIN ERB BLADE STAFF WRITER Proponents of casino gambling are looking to double down on Ohio's smaller communities by offering them the chance to decide for themselves if they want such gaming within their town limits. But the folks who live in some of those towns told The Blade such changes along their Main Streets face longer odds than a three-legged horse winning the Triple Crown. "No thanks," Napoleon city manager Jon Bisher said. "My first reaction is that it might work for the Clevelands or the Cincinnatis or even the Columbuses of the world, but not here." The latest initiative on gambling would allow about 50 Ohio municipalities to put the issue of casinos before their voters. Those municipalities must have their own home rule charter and either: ● Have a population of more than 50,000. ● Be home to an attraction that draws at least 1 million visitors a year. ● Be a county seat. About a third of the 50 communities have enough residents. Most of the remaining qualifying communities are the county seats, said John Mahoney, deputy director of the Ohio Municipal League. Full article at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050531/NEWS17/505310320/-1/NEWS
June 9, 200520 yr Three articles from the 6/9/05 Enquirer: Some Ohio investors bet on Indian casinos By James McNair Enquirer staff writer Despite the strong opposition of Ohio's top politicians and the potential for a legal fight, some investors are willing to take a flier on at least two of four Indian-run casinos proposed for the state. The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma wants to build the casinos. The tribe, which has started the process of filing a land claim for 145 square miles, is cutting casino-hosting deals with four towns - Monroe, Botkins, Lordstown and Lorain. It hopes to make Ohio the 29th state with Indian-chartered casinos. The Eastern Shawnee's move comes in the same year that mayors in Cleveland and Cincinnati have called for legalization of casino gambling, casinos in Southeast Indiana are expanding, and momentum appears to be building in Kentucky for casino gaming to save the ailing horse-racing industry. Ohio's highest officeholders oppose casino gambling, as do many state legislators. But a small number of Ohio residents are undeterred and are betting on the tribe's success. A Delaware County company called National Capital I is serving as the Shawnee's' vehicle for obtaining approvals and raising money. National Capital has raised $10,000 to $50,000 from each of about a dozen private investors. Full article at http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050609/BIZ01/506090339/1076/rss01 Shawnee face state, federal hurdles The Enquirer The casino hosting agreements that the Eastern Shawnee have with four Ohio municipalities, including Monroe, are contingent on the tribe winning approvals from state and federal officials. Getting those approvals could prove formidable for the tribe, however. Currently there are no Indian lands in Ohio, and it has no federally recognized resident tribes. That makes the task for the Eastern Shawnee difficult, since no tribe has ever won a gaming agreement from a state where it didn't reside. The federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act requires the governor and the legislature of a host state to approve a gambling compact, so Ohio's probable refusal to allow casinos makes a drawn-out legal battle seemingly inevitable. The tribe has threatened to file a land claim in federal court if the state wouldn't deal. If it succeeds, the land could be recognized as sovereign, so the tribe wouldn't be required to pay state and local taxes or share gambling proceeds. Full article at http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050609/BIZ01/506090343 Tribe has roots in South - and Ohio The Enquirer The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma are descendants of the historic Shawnee Nation. The Shawnee were an Algonquian people, according to the Encyclopedia of North American Indians. Their name signifies "southerners," and other evidence suggests an early location on the Savannah River in South Carolina, the encyclopedia says. Yet in the 1670s and 1680s the Shawnees were dislodged from the Ohio and Cumberland valleys by Iroquois raids. By 1730, after a period of dispersal, they had regrouped - mostly in western Pennsylvania, with a small segment in what is now Alabama. Over the next decade, these Shawnees - seeking better game and freedom from English and Iroquois interference - withdrew down the Ohio toward the Scioto River, reclaiming the territory they had occupied a century before, according to the encyclopedia. Full article at http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050609/BIZ01/506090305
June 9, 200520 yr If there are going to be casinos, I don't want to see any of this Indian gambling nonsense. The rules should apply equally to everyone. Might as well have urban and riverboat casinos if there arre going to be casinos.
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