What's Going On With the Ohio Casinos?

So, what's going on with the Ohio casinos? As you probably recall, last month the voters in Ohio approved legislation allowing for the creation of 4 casinos. Cleveland, Toledo, Cincinnati, and Columbus are targeted for these new gaming establishments.

Here's an article about tightening some loopholes in the legislation. One bill wants to allow for background checks among casino owners and another is aiming to limit political donations. Please see Editorial: Casino maintenance begins for further information.

And, here's another article describing how Governor Strickland is pushing for more local control of the casinos. Casinos have introduced legislation exempting them from local zoning and land restrictions, and it looks like their may need to be some negotiations in the near future. For more information, please see Governor is cities' ace in hole.

Ohio Casinos Win Approval

Ohio Casinos are coming. Ohio voters last night approved Issue 3 by approximately 53% to 47% margin. Casinos can now be built in Toledo, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus. This will definately have a negative affect on nearby states' gambling revenue as more Ohio gamblers will stay closer to home.

For a look at reactions from around the Midwest, please see The passing of Issue 3 draws mixed reaction on both sides of Ohio's border.

Both Sides in Ohio Casino Debate Make Final Push

The vote on Ohio casinos is going on as we write this, but both sides aren't giving an inch. Both supporters and opponents are pushing their side to get out the vote. And, even though polls show that the casino legislation will likely pass, you never know how things mught swing in an off-year election.

For a look at what's going on in Ohio, please see Casino ground game raging before vote.

Ohio Casino Debate to Be Decided Tomorrow

Ohio voters will vote tomorrow (Tuesday) on whether or not to allow casinos in four of their cities, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo, and Columbus. At the heart of the debate is the usual issue of jobs vs. the typical ills that casinos can bring. Both sides of the issue have a lot to lose or gain from the outcome.

Will Ohio Casinos Hurt Detroit?

One of the biggest reasons that we've kept up-to-date on the proposed Ohio casinos is because of the negative impact they're likely to have on the Detroit casinos, and to a lesser extent, Michigan charitable bingos. Due to be voted on in November, the Ohio proposal would allow for four casinos...one each in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and (most worrisome to Michigan casinos) Toledo.

From the Detroit News:

Backers of Issue 3, including Dan Gilbert, co-founder of Livonia-based Quicken Loans, have been heavily courting voters throughout the referendum process by arguing that as much as $1 billion a year is spent by Ohioans every year in casinos across state borders in West Virginia, Indiana and Michigan. Gilbert, who also has championed a rebirth of downtown Detroit, is a co-owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and has sunk millions into pushing for passage of Issue 3.

One recent television ad urges Buckeye voters to "take charge" and "keep our money in Ohio."

That kind of rhetoric is a concern for Detroit's three casinos -- MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity and Greektown. By all accounts, Ohioans represent the single-largest group of out-of-state casino patrons in southeast Michigan, and constitute a goodly portion of business for Caesars Windsor, across the Detroit River, in Ontario.

For more information on this article, please see Nathan Hurst, Ohio may take on Detroit casinos, The Detroit News, October 12, 2009.

This casino legislation will be voted on on November 3rd. Please check back for updates.

Poll Shows Ohio Casinos May Happen, Fight Still On

In November, Ohio voters will decide whether or not they will approve the construction of casinos in 4 of their cities. Plans have been drawn for casinos in Columbus, Toledo, and two other areas. However, last year's proposal for a single casino also led in the polls and was defeated on election day.

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Seven weeks before election day, Ohioans by a wide margin say they favor a plan to put casinos in Columbus and three other Ohio cities, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.

"Gambling opponents, who have beat back previous efforts to bring casinos to Ohio four times, have their work cut out for them if they are to prevail this time," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Connecticut university's polling institute, in a release.

The issue was passing by a 21-point margin in the survey released today, down a bit from a 26-point lead in July but still a large hurdle for gambling opponents to overcome less than two months before Ohioans vote on state Issue 3.

Even with passage, it will likely take some time for these casinos to open, and no word on whether or not they would have bingo. Of course, any casino will certainly have an impact on nearby charity bingos.

For more information, please see Darrel Rowland, Casinos a winner, poll shows, The Columbus Dispatch, September 15, 2009.

Could some Charitable Gaming to Be Banned in Ohio?

The language in the casino proposal currently being debated in Ohio is worrying some supporters of fundraising events. At issue is whether or not the current proposal would ban charitable gaming (casino nights) from the proposed casino areas. Frankly, it will be tough for casino fundraisers to compete against a casino in their own backyard anyway, but this legislation may seal their fate.

Below is an excerpt from the Columbus Dispatch:

If Ohioans approve four casinos in this November's election, they could inadvertently shut down casino-style games that many churches and other charitable organizations hold to raise money.

That's the opinion of Gov. Ted Strickland and Attorney General Richard Cordray, who have analyzed the language of the ballot measure that would authorize casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.

Issue 3 would limit "casino gaming" to those four sites.

Opponents of the proposed constitutional amendment, plus the attorney general's office, think that restriction would wipe out casino-style gambling currently allowed at churches under Ohio's charitable-gaming laws.

"If the amendment passes, we believe that it would create a risk that a court might find that those charitable games of chance that are currently legal might be determined to be illegal," said Ted Hart, a spokesman for the attorney general.

While bingos would obviously face increased competition from the proposed casinos, the casino legislation would not affect their ability to operate. It specifically exempts bingo and horse racing from any new gambling restrictions.

For the complete story, please see James Nash, Casinos to stop church games?, The Columbus Dispatch, August 21, 2009.

Toledo Casino in the Cards?

Area businesses are looking for a boost if a casino is built in Toledo.

"Definitely, because once people try the food here, they come back," said Greg Shubeta, owner of Shubie's Ice Cream & Grill in Rossford.

Some area businesses in Rossford are already counting the dollars and sense from Ohio's proposed casinos, even before voters decide whether they will be built.

Backers of a proposal to place casinos in Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati submitted enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

The planned site for a Toledo casino would be right off I-75 at Miami Street, next to the Pilkington Plant in Rossford. The proposed land sits on the Rossford-Toledo border, but will call Toledo home.

For the complete story, please see Shaun Hegarty, Business expect boost from casino, FoxToledo.com, Jluy 22, 2009.

Ohio VLT's (Slots) Challenged in Court

The question of whether Ohio Governor Ted Strickland’s executive order authorizing the Ohio Lottery to install video lottery terminals (VLTs) at the state’s racetracks has landed -- as expected -- in the Ohio Supreme Court. And another proposal to legalize full-service casinos, sponsored in part by Penn National Gaming, owner of Toledo Raceway Park, will be on this coming November’s Ohio ballot.

An organization calling itself letohiovote.org has filed papers in the state’s highest court, seeking a ruling that Strickland overstepped his legal bounds by authorizing VLTs at the tracks. The group has also said it will spend up to $2.5 million to gather signatures to put the issue on the November 2010 state ballot.

Another anti-gambling group, the Ohio Roundtable, a church-based group, has promised to file a lawsuit, but has not done so as of yet.

On another Buckeye gaming front, Ohio Attorney General Jennifer Brunner has ruled that more than the necessary 402,275 valid signatures have been submitted by Penn National and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who seek to build full-service casinos in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo, and that the question will appear on the November ballot this year.

For the complete story, please see John Pawlak, Ohio VLTs challenged in court; casino vote to go forward, U.S. Trotting Association, July 22, 2009.