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Kasich administration selects gambling consultants
Gov. John Kasich’s administration on Thursday announced that two companies have been selected as consultants to “advise the state on how best to harmonize Ohio’s gaming policies and optimize gaming’s benefits to Ohio.”
The companies, who will be paid about $400 per hour, are Spectrum Gaming Group of Lindwood, N.J., and Moelis & Company of Los Angeles, Calif., an investment bank, a press release said.
The total cost has not been projected because the scope of the contract with each firm still is being worked out, said Molly O’Reilly, spokeswoman for the Department of Administrative Services.
The firms were chosen after a competitive evaluation process led by the department’s Office of Procurement Services, the release said. The department will work with the firms to set a deadline for submission of their recommendations, the release said.
The release said the state’s gambling laws have been enacted without regard to how different types of gambling fit with each other.
Voters in 2009 approved a constitutional amendment to permit construction of casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo and the Kasich administration is talking with the casino backers about implementing this expansion of gambling.
The administration also is reviewing proposals to put VLTs - video lottery terminals - at Ohio’s horse racing tracks.
Moelis will make recommendations for maximizing the benefit to taxpayers from gaming, O’Reilly said in an email. Spectrum will give the state advice on rules, regulations, operational relationships regarding casinos and VLT facilities, she said.
Spectrum’s work is expected to extend over year and possible two years, O’Reilly said. Moelis’ work is expected to take less than a year, with most of it finished within the first six months, she added.
Comments
By MAC
April 23, 2011 8:18 PM | Link to this
Spot on Squirrel; all of it is very wasteful like much of Government & Politics. U do realize it is $400 an hour? We don’t know the total cost yet; it will be much more than $400! Point is, I thought we didn’t have the money and if the State didn’t allow gambling, there wouldn’t B a need 4 it at all. People wouldn’t B wasting $ on games they can’t afford and money would be better spent all the way around IMO! Talk about something our Government shouldn’t be involved in. I thought Ohio was a conservative people? Instead, they jumped in bed w/ devil and now they want to drag many of us in there with him!! Quite wasting MY TAX $$ on PRIVATE Business Folly!!!
By Squirrellygirl
April 18, 2011 9:30 AM | Link to this
Obama sent billions of dollars to Brazil (for drilling for oil while his regulatory czar denies permits for Americans to drill in our own waters), but the progressives are okay with that, right? And the progressives are okay with Obama bombing Libya and spending more of our tax money that we can’t afford (when we hear that we arming the very terrorists who fought with our military). These terrorists are flickered throughout the Libyan rebels. And the progressives are okay with Obama sending our tax dollars to Mexico for an auto plant (and accompanying jobs that we should have here but instead went to Mexico). So you’re crying about $400 spent to investigate this? So…how does this work? If you are a black president the American people aren’t allowed to ask any questions, but when Kasich is voted in he’s questioned about $400? Wow. Did you know Obama wants to bomb Israel next? It’s next on the UN’s R2P list, right after Libya! But let’s argue about $400 instead! Ignorance, plain and simple ignorance. Talk about foil hats! These progressive socialists are crying about $400 while their president spends billions of dollars gifts on Brazil? Really? Really? I think I can see flies flying out of Obama’s mouth! He reminds me of Pres. Clinton, everytime his mouth moves he is lying. What does “is” mean to YOU, President Obama? How about the Unions, what does “is” mean to YOU? How about you Bill Ayers followers? 25 million Americans and you want to send them to death camps? What does “is” mean to YOU?
By MAC
April 16, 2011 6:03 PM | Link to this
I don’t care how legit it seems & may B; there’s no justification 4 $400 dollars an hour in legal fees when state has lawyers already on the books who could advise, excessive airfair expenditures by K-sick & crew & 93K by Dayton City for FIVE Lawmowers??? Why any of us ALLOW OUR ELECTED politicians to get away w/ crap like this in times like these & then stand back while they talk down 2 middle class about how we have to sacrafice more is just mind numbing!!! Stop attacking each other & start holding OUR Gov officials accountable!
By mort
April 15, 2011 11:47 AM | Link to this
$400 bucks an hour!!! Wow……LOOKS like Kaisch Wall Street buddies are CASHING IN!!! I guess when the state is in a budget crisis…….Kaisch decides to hire folks at $400 bucks and hour.
By Ha ha ha
April 15, 2011 10:49 AM | Link to this
Great headline. Everything Kasich does is gambling with his cronies. Whistleblowers that benefit the public? When are we going to have voters that support the public? Frenchy, the phrase would be “j’adore”. As someone who has watched a once-great state being gutted by the private sector for decades, I think “farging icehole” is more appropriate. Maybe if you’re lucky Dayton will land a sweat shop and sex trade operation.
By Casino Sweetheart Deal
April 15, 2011 9:08 AM | Link to this
Look at the Hamilton County stadium deal for the Bengals. The taxpayers were screwed by rushing into a one sided deal…and they will be paying for that mistake for the next 30 YEARS! If the Governor wants to look at this deal to make sure the state isn’t geting ripped off, I absolutely support him!!! Finally someone showing some frigging leadership and watching out for Ohio taxpayers.
By Frenchy
April 15, 2011 8:50 AM | Link to this
@karon, How do I like him? He’s trying to squeeze every dime out of those dirty corporate gaming companies (you despise) on behalf of Ohio taxpayers. Jai adore Kasich.
By Navin Johnson
April 15, 2011 7:43 AM | Link to this
Clueless Karon posts again…Kasich is doing exactly what he said he would do when he was running. Were you paying attention?
By jon
April 15, 2011 7:18 AM | Link to this
John Kasich is doing what the voters wanted him to Do,If it Pizzes off the Demons then you know He’s doing it right. Come on Demoncrats cry us conservatives a River we love to Hear it.All togeather now WAH,WAH,BOO HOO,WAH WAH, cry Babies.
By jon
April 15, 2011 7:11 AM | Link to this
John Kasich is doing what the voters wanted him to Do,If it Pizzes off the Demons then you know He’s doing it right. Come on Demoncrats cry us conservatives a River we love to Hear it.All togeather now WAH,WAH,BOO HOO,WAH WAH, cry Babies.
By karon
April 14, 2011 11:10 PM | Link to this
Recall Kasich now! The jerks that voted for him how do you like him now that his true colors have come out?
By null
April 14, 2011 10:51 PM | Link to this
what a joke. kasich does whatever he wants, spends all this money on two out-of-state firms while robbing me of my dignity by busting my union and instilling fear in people. VLT’s at race tracks should be put to ballot vote
By Dave
April 14, 2011 7:39 PM | Link to this
Doesn’t anyone in Ohio have ANY skills that Kasich respects?