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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > November > 18 > Entry
Casino backers offer draft plan to get gambling started
The successful backers of the Nov. 3 ballot issue to permit four casinos in Ohio have sent lawmakers draft legislation to get the casinos up and running.
The purpose is to give legislators the benefit of the experience that Penn National Gaming, which is to operate casinos in Columbus and Toledo, has had in other states and to answer some of the questions raised in the campaign, Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman for the pro-casino Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan, said on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
The other two casinos are planned for Cincinnati and Cleveland. Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert is the backer of those casinos.
Key points of the legislation:
*90 percent of the casinos’ employees are to come from the four metro areas where the casinos are to be located.
*The casinos will use a cashless wagering system with chips, tokens, tickets, electronic cards and similar objects. Critics had said cash wagering at casinos would be exempt from taxation.
*Charitable gambling, such as church casino nights, would not be prohibited. Critics had charged such gambling would be banned.
*Building permits for casinos should be processed “without unreasonable delays.” In Franklin County, which includes Columbus, voters rejected the casino plan and there has been talk of delaying efforts to get the casino started.
Keary McCarthy, spokesman for House Speaker Armond Budish, D-Beachwood, said Budish wants to hear from all parties and the draft is a “first step.” Budish, who supported the casino plan, wants to get the best deal for the state, said McCarthy.
Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, who opposed the casinos, hasn’t had a chance to look at the draft, said Maggie Ostrowski, Harris’ spokeswoman.
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