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Voters: Jobs, economy behind gambling support

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By Jim DeBrosse, Staff Writer Updated 11:49 PM Saturday, September 26, 2009

Sheila Perry says it’s no mystery why the Dayton Daily News/Ohio Newspaper Poll shows a majority of Ohio voters now favor casino gambling.

“It’s the economy,” the 42-year-old New Carlisle resident said. “People think that some jobs will come to Ohio, and we need them. I say give it a try.”

Ohio voters have turned down four gambling proposals since 1990, but for now at least the gaming tables seem to be turning.

Duane Shope, 61, of Dayton says he doesn’t gamble, especially since losing work as a union carpenter 10 months ago. But if legalizing gambling means more jobs, he’s all for it.

“It’s not a moral issue, it’s an economic issue,” he said. “There’s gambling going on all around us (in other states), and Ohio has a lottery already.”

Shope said he is more concerned that casino owners will bring in workers from outside the state to build and operate their facilities.

For 28-year-old Treveon Coats of Trotwood, the issue is not just about jobs. It’s about Ohioans having to drive to other states to gamble. “I’m going to Indiana probably two or three times a month, sometimes more,” he said.

Elizabeth Highley of Gratis said she’s not surprised that many Ohioans have changed their minds about casinos, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right thing for the state to do. “I think there are better ways to bring money into the state,” she said.

Highley said she knows “individuals who are addicted” to gambling and fears the presence of casinos won’t help them.

But, said Coats, “People will do what they want to do anyway.”

Shope said gambling addicts already are traveling to states like Indiana to feed their habit. “The only way to stop it is to educate them in the problems of gambling,” he said.

Denise Dean, 44, of Dayton said Ohioans should have the choice to gamble. “We’re all grown-ups,” she said. “I have an appetite for shopping and (buying) shoes. Some people have an appetite for tobacco or drinking.

“Society puts words on things like addiction, but it’s a matter of self-control.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2437 or jdebrosse@DaytonDailyNews.com.

How the poll was conducted

The Dayton Daily News and seven other daily Ohio newspapers commissioned this poll to determine voter opinions surrounding the gambling issue. A second poll will be published in late October. The poll was done in conjunction with the Ohio Poll run by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. The institute interviewed 713 registered voters from Sept. 16-22. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percent.

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@ Treveon Coats....I curious not because you are supporting the gambling in Ohio but my concern is your reasoning behind it. You are the son of the Good Rev Doctor Hence Coats and per our religious beliefs we don't gamble. You only agree with the bill because you don't want to travel 2-3 times a month but you spending gas and money on what could be going into the church offering in oppose to Rev Coats getting up criticizing folk for not giving of a free heart. Someone in the room say HyPoCrItE!

FollowerofGod NotofMen
11:21 AM, 9/30/2009

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I admit that I don't know all of the facts about this bill. However, I will be voting no on this bill because I think that gambling is detrimental to families. Yes we need more jobs but do we want to encourage gambling (and mostly losing hard earned money) while families are already struggling? Children always end up paying the price for their parent's habits. I understand that some only gamble for the entertainment but more people get too addicted to the false promise of "winning" money.

Leslie
9:40 AM, 9/27/2009

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The people who think that the sentiment of Ohio voters is turning around are kidding themselves. IMO, the reason surveys show a more positive response than in the past is that all we're seeing is pro-gambling advertisments. I have yet to see an anti casino advertisement, but I see a dozen from supporters of issue 3 every day. Once the legal wrangling ends and both sides are innudating the airwaves with advertisements, I expect the polls to return to traditional levels.

Big Ed
11:14 PM, 9/26/2009

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