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Poll: Voters backing both slots, casinos in tough job market

Kris Collier is working at Mound Technical Solutions in Miamisburg while he is pursuing his manufacturing and computer control degree at Sinclair Community College. Collier wrote computer code for the interface on this mass spectrometer. Collier opposes the casino plan for Ohio in state issue 3. Staff photo by Ty Greenlees

Ty Greenlees/Staff Photographer Kris Collier is working at Mound Technical Solutions in Miamisburg while he is pursuing his manufacturing and computer control degree at Sinclair Community College. Collier wrote computer code for the interface on this mass spectrometer. Collier opposes the casino plan for Ohio in state issue 3. Staff photo by Ty Greenlees

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David Kolarik, a member of Laborers Local 310 in Cleveland, leaves the GM Parma Plant Thursday, September 24, 2009. Kolarik has been a vocal supporter of Issue 3, the casino gambling issue. Plain Dealer photo by Gus Chan

Gus Chan/Staff Photographer David Kolarik, a member of Laborers Local 310 in Cleveland, leaves the GM Parma Plant Thursday, September 24, 2009. Kolarik has been a vocal supporter of Issue 3, the casino gambling issue. Plain Dealer photo by Gus Chan

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By William Hershey and Laura A. Bischoff, Staff Writers Updated 11:48 PM Saturday, September 26, 2009

COLUMBUS — Backers of Issue 3 say their plan to put casinos in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo will create thousands of jobs and boost the recession-battered coffers of state and local governments.

So far Ohio voters are buying that argument, according to the Dayton Daily News/Ohio Newspaper Poll released on Sunday, Sept. 27.

Voters backed Issue 3, 59-38 percent, with 3 percent undecided. On a related question, the poll found voters were more likely to view legalized gambling as a way to improve Ohio’s economy — 55 percent — as opposed to making the economy worse — 23 percent. Nineteen percent said it would have no impact.

The poll also had good news for Gov. Ted Strickland. Sixty-two percent backed his plan to put 17,500 video lottery terminals at Ohio’s seven racetracks. It was incorporated in the state budget without a vote of the people and now is on hold. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled last week that it is subject to a referendum that could come in November 2010.

Other key findings:

• Majorities of both Democrats and Republicans backed Issue 3, while independents were more likely to say “no.”

• Support for Issue 3 isn’t just coming from gamblers. More than 80 percent of the respondents said they would “seldom” or “never” visit the gambling venues.

• A majority of voters — 56 percent — were either “not too concerned” or “not concerned at all” that both gambling plans would increase gambling addiction. However, those who expressed concern about gambling addiction were far more likely to oppose racetrack slots or say they would vote no on Issue 3.

• Seventy-one percent said they know too little to make a judgment about the taxes casinos would pay if Issue 3 passes.

The tax rate — 33 percent on gross revenues — is a subject of fierce debate between supporters and opponents and a focal point in the advertising campaigns that are already in full swing.

Sponsors of the ballot issue — 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.

For voters like Akron native James Jensen, now a lawyer in Columbus, there’s no clear answer yet. Jensen is leaning toward support of the issue for a simple reason: “I like to gamble.”

But Jensen is skeptical about all the claims of economic benefits.

“Frankly, it doesn’t bring any good jobs into an area,” he said. “The tax revenues are really minimal. With casinos invariably come crime and gambling problems. Gambling is no panacea for state budget woes.”

Other places with gambling haven’t been transformed, Jensen said.

“It’s not like Detroit has become a beautiful city now that it has gambling,” he said.

Jobs and tax dollars

The promises of jobs and more tax money appear to resonate with many voters, however.

“It would really boost up Cleveland. We need that shot,” said David Kolarik, Jr., 51, a construction worker from Laborers Local 310 in Cleveland who lives in nearby Medina County. Organized labor is a big backer of Issue 3, with the Ohio AFL-CIO, the UAW and the FOP all providing support.

In Columbus, Gerald Chisolm, 52, agreed with Kolarik.

“You don’t have to go to college to work at a casino. Everybody needs jobs — like right now,” said Chisolm, a customer service representative for the Central Ohio Transit Authority. “....This will create janitor jobs, security jobs, a whole lot of jobs.”

Ray Blackerby, an investigator for the state Department of Commerce, also plans to vote for Issue 3.

“If the governor wants to lay me off, it’d be nice to know there are other (job) options out there,” said Blackerby of Hilliard, a Columbus suburb.

In Miami Twp. near Dayton, Eric Sano, 47, said he supports Issue 3 for two reasons: “Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs and income taxes, income taxes, income taxes, income taxes.”

“I favor anything that will create jobs and produce revenue for the state of Ohio,” said Sano, a long-haul truck driver. “I’m very much for it. I’d love to see a casino in Dayton, in Canton or even southeast Ohio.”

Travis Estell, 21, a senior at the University of Cincinnati, agreed with Sano.

“I think that the state of Ohio is losing a lot of money to other states with legalized gambling that could be kept here,” Estell said.

Casinos and problems

Sarah Yocis, 21, a fourth-year student at the University of Cincinnati, said it’s hard to say “no” right now to promises of new jobs but she’s against Issue 3.

“I personally don’t see casinos as a good thing,” said Yocis. She thinks problem gambling will increase in the state if casinos are more conveniently located in Ohio rather than requiring people to leave the state to gamble.

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