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Ohioans approve casinos for 4 cities

Well-financed campaign and message of jobs and money leaving the state appeared to strike chord with voters.

Staff graphic by Ted Pitts Issue 3 results.

By Laura A. Bischoff, Staff Writers Updated 1:20 PM Wednesday, November 4, 2009

COLUMBUS — Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo are on track to have Las Vegas-style casinos after Ohio voters passed Issue 3, according to statewide returns.

With 91 percent of the precincts statewide counted, Issue 3 led with 53 percent of voters saying yes.

With statewide unemployment at about 10 percent, voters said yes to the promise of 34,000 new jobs, $1 billion in capital investment, and $651 million a year in tax revenues for local governments and school districts.

“Our message from day one has been very simple: jobs and money have been leaving the state. And I think people have seen it and they responded,” said Issue 3 campaign chairman and former Cincinnati mayor Charlie Luken. “And you add on to that the fact that the economy is so bad. I think that people want more jobs in Ohio.”

The outcome is a repudiation of four previous statewide votes since 1990 when voters said no to casino proposals.

“I think more than anything it’s the aspect of the economy, jobs. People have bought into that,” said Tom Smith of the Ohio Council of Churches, which opposed Issue 3. “I think people really believe it’s going to create all these new jobs and I think that more than anything is what changed people’s minds.”

Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert and his partner Penn National Gaming raised more than $35 million for the pro-Issue 3 campaign.

U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, and the Ohio Council of Churches and Ohio Roundtable opposed casinos mostly on the grounds that it would harm families and increase crime.

On a parallel track, a group called TruthPAC ran a $6 million campaign against Issue 3. Truth PAC was funded by West Virginia-based MRT Gaming which owns casinos in West Virginia and Pennsylvania that stand to lose business when Ohio gets casinos.

Issue 1 results

Voters overwhelmingly approved bonuses to veterans, 72 percent to 28 percent with 90 percent of the precincts counted.

Issue 2 results

An amendment establishing a board to oversee care of livestock passed, 64 percent to 36 percent, with 90 percent of the vote counted.

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It would be gret to have a casino on the great lakes. excellent vacation spot. Now losen up those slots!!

Jvt913
11:45 AM, 11/8/2009

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How about those of us who have already had our jobs move out of state?

Maybe we would prefer it be left the way it was for when we eventually move back?

Maybe this will be the straw that makes us just stay away because Ohio is now Michigan...... :-(

John W
8:39 PM, 11/5/2009

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OMG! People are STILL whining about the Casinos? ITS OVER - GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON. Pretend that you have a life and find happiness inside and QUIT BLAMING OTHERS FOR YOUR MISERY. It's NOT the Casinos fault, it's NOT the Governments fault. Look in the mirror, little whiners and put your teabags away. You don't matter anymore, the fifties are over. This is 2009 - change or die.

Give it up whiners
9:50 PM, 11/4/2009

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Yeah! I can't wait to get my gamble on!

josh
9:49 PM, 11/4/2009

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I'M GONNA SELL MY KIDS AND USE THE MONEY SO I CAN GET RICH PLAYING BLACKJACK!!!!!!

Dougy
8:38 PM, 11/4/2009

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