By null

July 20, 2009 9:04 PM | Link to this

Ohioissad is hardly visionary yet seems to be the only one hitting the nail on the head. I agree with others that gambling addiction is not desirable. Neither is a ghost state. As a community statewide we need to do something to resuscitate ourselves and create a reason for people to stay here &come here. This is a pitiful place to live, not a place to work & certainly no place to have fun. For our your: put the Bible away & take care of your own soul.

By voters

July 20, 2009 8:07 PM | Link to this

they got 800,000 signatures and they only need 400,000 so that means they got 400,000 convicted felons to sign, so that means 400,000 of them are real, you Buckeyes must all be crooks every last one of you are just plain idiots to buy into this crap the greedy ones are spreading think for yourself, quite being led by your buck nose…. fools the olot of you

By Utopian

July 20, 2009 5:49 PM | Link to this

UrbanDweller: Convicted felons are prohibited by the Constitution from voting and only registered voters can sign petitions for ballot initiatives. If someone is a convicted felon he/she cannot therefore be a registered voter so his/her signature would be deemed invalid.

By UrbanDweller

July 20, 2009 4:38 PM | Link to this

I think Ohioans have shot down gambling in the past because it’s always tried to be passed as a constitutional ammendment where only a certain few are allowed to profit. Plus, can someone tell me why convicted felons can’t sign petitions? If they have served time for their crime, then they’ve paid their debt to society. What the heck does signing a petition have to do with it?

By For our Youth

July 20, 2009 3:29 PM | Link to this

To Ohioissad, I’m a Hoosier, The people of Indiana are is the exact same shape Ohio is in. The state may be better off but it’s becouse of different socio-economic reasons. The cassinos arn’t as big a player as people would have you believe. Look into it for yourself and don’t just fall for the hype. Take time and research yourself. Regardless the Bible indicates that we should not support gambleing. So if you are a Christian then voice your opinion. Jesus didn’t call us to remain silent. He sure didn’t. I’m sorry for lost jobs and the economy but at some point we have to trust God with our lives. After all they are really His lives but he gave us free will. So now we can freely choose God or the world.

By For our Youth

July 20, 2009 3:18 PM | Link to this

Is gambling a sin? What does the Bible say about gambling? Question: “Is gambling a sin? What does the Bible say about gambling?” Answer: The Bible does not specifically condemn gambling, betting, or the lottery. The Bible does warn us, however, to stay away from the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10; Hebrews 13:5). Scripture also encourages us to stay away from attempts to “get rich quick” (Proverbs 13:11; 23:5; Ecclesiastes 5:10). Gambling most definitely is focused on the love of money and undeniably tempts people with the promise of quick and easy riches. What is wrong with gambling? Gambling is a difficult issue because if it is done in moderation and only on occasion, it is a waste of money, but it is not necessarily evil. People waste money on all sorts of activities. Gambling is no more or less of a waste of money than seeing a movie (in many cases), eating an unnecessarily expensive meal, or purchasing a worthless item. At the same time, the fact that money is wasted on other things does not justify gambling. Money should not be wasted. Excess money should be saved for future needs or given to the Lord’s work, not gambled away. While the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it does mention games of “luck” or “chance.” As an example, casting lots is used in Leviticus to choose between the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat. Joshua cast lots to determine the allotment of land to the various tribes. Nehemiah cast lots to determine who would live inside the walls of Jerusalem. The apostles cast lots to determine the replacement for Judas. Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast in the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” What would the Bible say about casinos and lotteries? Casinos use all sorts of marketing schemes to entice gamblers to risk as much money as possible. They often offer inexpensive or even free alcohol, which encourages drunkenness, and thereby a decreased ability to make wise decisions. Everything in a casino is perfectly rigged for taking money in large sums and giving nothing in return, except for fleeting and empty pleasures. Lotteries attempt to portray themselves as a way to fund education and/or social programs. However, studies show that lottery participants are usually those who can least afford to be spending money on lottery tickets. The allure of “getting rich quick” is too great a temptation to resist for those who are desperate. The chances of winning are infinitesimal, which results in many peoples’ lives being ruined. Can lotto/lottery proceeds please God? Many people claim to be playing the lottery or gambling so that they can give the money to the church or to some other good cause. While this may be a good motive, reality is that few use gambling winnings for godly purposes. Studies show that the vast majority of lottery winners are in an even worse financial situation a few years after winning a jackpot than they were before. Few, if any, truly give the money to a good cause. Further, God does not need our money to fund His mission in the world. Proverbs 13:11 says, “Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” God is sovereign and will provide for the needs of the church through honest means. Would God be honored by receiving donated drug money or money stolen in a bank robbery? Of course not. Neither does God need or want money that was “stolen” from the poor in the temptation for riches. First Timothy 6:10 tells us, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Hebrews 13:5 declares, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Matthew 6:24 proclaims, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

By Ohioissad

July 20, 2009 3:17 PM | Link to this

Ohio is becoming to be one of the states you do not want to live in—there are no jobs here, the crime is terrible, and the moral is very low-you go to Indiana and they are constantly smiling and making money from their state as well as ours. Its does not take a rocket scientist to see Ohio needs gambling to give this sad state a boost. In 10 years it may very well be a ghost town cause their is nothing to do but beg, borrow and steal..Most of the jobs are taken…

By For our Youth

July 20, 2009 3:06 PM | Link to this

Studies show that lotteries are the favorite legal gambling game for teenagers. Statistically, one of seven who play will become addicted. But teenagers aren’t the only ones affected. One out of 10 adults who gamble will become addicted too. In fact, gambling is the fastest growing addiction in America. Like alcoholism and drug addiction, compulsive gambling is costly to the economy. Families are the ones who suffer the most. Many people feel gambling is only a game that is fun, but the Bible tells us this evil is a terrible sin that will lead to poverty. “He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him” (Proverbs 28:22). “He who oppresses the poor to get gain for himself, and he who gives to the rich will surely come to want” (Proverbs 22:16) Proverbs 21:20 says, “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. I understand wanting to create jobs. But at some point Christian have to make a choice follow the Bible or the world. If you are Christian then there is only one choice to make.

By whynotdayton

July 20, 2009 2:36 PM | Link to this

why is there not a casino proposal for dayton? i mean it can’t be the fear of bringing pawn shops and prostitution to town because they are already here. you can also rule out no vacant space for one because dayton is starting to look like a ghost town.

By LINDA

July 20, 2009 2:01 PM | Link to this

The Ohio Lottery doesn’t want the casinos. People who go to the casinos also play the lottery..nothing lost. When you go to the casinos, the majority or the license plates read OHIO…What does that tell you. I enjoy going to the casinos and will continue to go to Indiana.

By Joe Gambler

July 20, 2009 1:49 PM | Link to this

The last gambling issue didn’t go down because Ohioans don’t want gambling. It went down because it was a bad plan…and because Penn National Gaming (owner of argosy) spent several millions of dollars to advertise against it. Ohio will vote for a common sense, comprehensive approach to gambling…if one is presented.

By giveitupalready

July 20, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this

The voters have turned down casinos 3 or 4 times already which is why the ballot issue is being fought. This is just another way not to listen to the voters. If the voters change their minds it will pass otherwise it won’t. On another note I think it criminal that Brunner has to be forced to do her job. She needs to be investigated.

By frank

July 20, 2009 12:44 PM | Link to this

I am not opposed to the casinos at all. I’ve been to the Indiana ones, and they are full of Ohio gamblers. However, I don’t think the state is being creative enough in its ways to find additional income for it’s shortfalls. How about the state take a bigger slice of automobile citations when those municipalities want to file it with the DMV for instance?

By sean

July 20, 2009 12:20 PM | Link to this

to tbill, stay out of the fast lane (not known as the passing lane…) I drive 75mph all my life on 71…never had a ticket…Lets see how you like it now that you are going to be stuck behind semi’s all the time. Now that it is 65mph for them and I see they are now in the fast lane…soon you will see what it is like being stuck behind you, Have fun! Don’t you see you need speeders to cancel out the bottleneck slow drivers (or AT the speed limit) cause, creating traffic jams. I’m done !!!

By Randy B

July 20, 2009 12:20 PM | Link to this

People who gamble will always gamble. If they have money or not. Why then should their money go to Ind., Michigan, Penn., etc. and not stay in Ohio? I’ve been to the boat in Ind once for a wedding anniversary. I took a small amount of money; had fun for 2 hours then left.If it was in Ohio they would have what I spent.

By sean

July 20, 2009 12:11 PM | Link to this

In response to SueME…have some faith in people. People with money will go and have a good time. I am broke and would not go unlees it is in a responsible way. I have some relatives that take their money outside the state at least bi-monthly. Their bills are paid. Why not keep the money here in ohio? What harm can casinos bring? I don’t see the harm in other states. OH unemployment is at 11.4..Casinos will bring JOBS, extra money in taxes (at least some help is better than nothing), and tourism…did you see OHIO is cutting their tourism budget to ZERO by 2012. There is billions lost there. I cannot be apposed to anthing that will boost OH

By sean

July 20, 2009 11:55 AM | Link to this

Inresponse to GED..no there wasn’t, this isn’t Iran

By sean

July 20, 2009 11:54 AM | Link to this

no there wasn’t, this isn’t Iran

By chad

July 20, 2009 11:50 AM | Link to this

they need to get this past. Im sick of hearing how all our money goes to indiana when it could stay hear. to the doo gooders who dont want this. let it pass and dont go to the casino.

By Joyce

July 20, 2009 11:48 AM | Link to this

Sue Me, you say all the losers will do such and such. What about the winners? What will they do with their money. First of all taxes are taken from the winnings. Why don’t you go stand on the state lines and protest all traffic going from Ohio to the casinos in the other states? Your ideas make no sense. Get out of your little bubble, and go to the other casinos and look at the cars in their parking lots, and see how many are from Ohio. But according to you and others Ohio doesn’t need the money. I hope the state starts taxing the churches, that would bring in a ton of money for the state. Or maybe perhaps, you will lose some of the benefits you receive because of cuts to a program you receive. Then I want to hear you crying about it.

By GED

July 20, 2009 11:39 AM | Link to this

Deceased names were on petitions; leaves me wondering how many of the so called valid signatures were actually forged?

By SueMe

July 20, 2009 11:28 AM | Link to this

Having casinos in Ohio won’t help the state’s budget. Losers will be gambling away their rent and grocery money, then the state taxpayers will have to house and feed them.

By FreedomWriter

July 20, 2009 11:19 AM | Link to this

I think they should just poll the unemployed to see if they think we need to bring ANY kind of new jobs into the DAYTON are and see what they would say. Probably a 100% response on that would be, Heck yeah. But Dayton isnt in the running for any of this. Incompetent gov around here, just sitting on there best ASSets.

By a bee

July 20, 2009 11:18 AM | Link to this

71 is already heavily monitored!! In one 4 mile stretch of 71 eight cruisers were seen ready to pounce! Give me a break - Southwest Ohio is one of the most ticketed areas in the entire US! I say keep the money in Ohio instead of Indiana casinos. Bring on the VLTs!!

By tbill

July 20, 2009 10:55 AM | Link to this

Ticket all the speeders on I-71 and they’d balance the budget in one month.