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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > September > 29 > Entry
New study from opponents: Four-casino plan a bad bet
Issue 3, the ballot issue to permit casinos in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo, is a bad bet for Ohio, according to a study released on Tuesday, Sept. 29, by opponents of the plan.
The study, prepared by researchers at Hiram College for the Ohio Licensed Beverage Association, said:
*The 33 percent tax rate on gross casino revenue is too low - it should be about 55 percent.
*The $50 million-per-casino franchise fee is too low. The state should auction off franchises to the highest bidders.
*The estimate of 34,000 new jobs - 19,000 from construction and 15,000 permanent jobs - is too high. The estimate comes from a University of Cincinnati study paid for by casino backers.
“It’s just …abundantly clear that the costs will outweigh the benefits,” Jacob Evans, vice president of legislative affairs for the OLBA, said at a news conference.
However, the Ohio Jobs and Growth Committee, the pro-casino group, defended the University of Cincinnati study and said in a statement that the study “painstakingly documents the methodology used to develop the estimate of 34,000 new Ohio jobs and $11 billion in economic impact for the state during construction and the first five years of casino operation.”
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By tryin to understand
September 30, 2009 10:56 AM | Link to this
I am trying to understand why people want our tax dollars to go to other states.Even if we vote not to have casinos in Ohio people are still going to go to the casinos out of state along with our tax dollars. I do agree we need to have proper regulation of the casinos and limit the number of casinos to be built.But I would rather our tax dollars stay in Ohio than go next doorBy GetFactsRight
September 29, 2009 5:28 PM | Link to this
Get your facts right about supporters and oppoents of issue 3: Sponsors of the proposal — Penn National Gaming of Wyomissing, Pa., and Dan Gilbert, majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers — emphasize the economic boom they say the casinos would bring, including an estimated 34,000 jobs, $1 billion in private investment, $200 million in licensing fees and $651 million a year to school districts, local governments and state programs. Opponents, led by MTR Gaming, which operates Scioto Down racetrack near Columbus and Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in Chester, W.Va., dispute the claims and say the casinos largely would benefit out-of-state interests while providing relatively few guaranteed jobs or benefits to Ohio.By Inside Straight
September 29, 2009 4:42 PM | Link to this
you’re right on the money Full Disclosure…another group funneling money to the anti gambling groups is Penn National Gaming, who just happen to own a few casino’s in Indiana, Illinois and West VirginiaBy Full Discolsure
September 29, 2009 3:41 PM | Link to this
Most of the Issue 3 opposition is being funded by a West Virginia casino owner. Does the OLBA also have an interest in seeing Issue 3 failing???