The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Issue 3: Casinos back on the ballot in Ohio

SunCoke receives permit from Ohio EPA
Updated 8 min. ago
Dayton, Fairfield malls closing early
Updated 22 min. ago
Judge cuts off embattled SCLC treasurer
5:02 p.m.
Cities declare snow emergencies; lull in snowfall expected at rush hour
4:51 p.m.
Mother’s defense says boyfriend abused her daughter in secret
4:48 p.m.
> More headlines

Staff report Updated 5:22 PM Saturday, August 22, 2009

In November, voters will be asked to amend the Ohio Constitution to allow four casinos — one each in Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

Here are the details:

Backers: Penn National Gaming Inc., a gambling company that also owns Toledo Raceway, and Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and operator of Quicken Loans.

Claims: 34,000 new jobs, $1 billion in private investment, $200 million in licensing fees, and $651 million per year split between schools, state and local governments.

Other: The casinos would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and be allowed to offer any form of gambling that surrounding states do.

Detroit’s three casinos have brought millions into the local economy, even as the city and state have struggled economically.

Year	Revenues	Taxes
1999*	$188.4 million	$15.3 million
2000	$743.6 million	$60.2 million
2001	$1 billion	$81.6 million
2002	$1.12 billion	$91.1 million
2003	$1.13 billion	$91.5 million
2004	$1.19 billion	$111.4 million
2005	$1.23 billion	$148.6 million
2006	$1.3 billion	$157.7 million
2007	$1.33 billion	$157.3 million
2008	$1.36 billion	$121 million
2009**	$797.9 million	$72.7 million

*July to Dec.

**Jan. to Dec.

Note: Tax rates increased in 2004 and then decreased as casinos opened hotels. Tax receipts dipped last year mostly because the city reduced the tax rate as an incentive to hasten hotel construction.

Source: Michigan Gaming Control Board

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

Well it is going to give someone jobs. And the thing about licensed casino owners, well no doubt that Ohio will give some kind of training for ohioans to be licensed. It would attract drug dealers and prostitutes, but they are everywhere anyways.

Bethany
9:36 AM, 11/4/2009

REPORT ABUSE

I think if the suburbs are voting for the gambling it should be on their street. The cities like Cleveland, Cincinnati, etc. have enough problems. The burbs can let their police and locals take care of the crime that gambling casino bring. Build the casinos in the suburbs!!!!

Tony
4:27 PM, 11/3/2009

REPORT ABUSE

In the above article, it mentioned the money brought into Detroit's economy. Detroit is one of the poorest cities with extremely high crime rates. The median price for a home in Detroit is $7,300.00. Is it helping the local economy? Also, the Ohio Lottery money is supposed to go to schools in Ohio. Where is it? Vote NO. By the way, Jon, anything NOT in the constitution is left up to the states.

Guy
10:25 AM, 11/3/2009

REPORT ABUSE

How is gambling in moral??? And if you are going to use examples to prove a point get it right... it wasn't juses it was judice, and it shows many times in the bible to where they rolled dice to settle an argument... and it should pass cause it would provide jobs for someone somewhere no matter what

Travis
8:50 AM, 11/2/2009

REPORT ABUSE

I am new to OH. I want to know why the OH Constitution has to be amended, and how can it be amended to allow ONLY certain people/corporations to own/run casinos?

Barbara Corbett
12:19 AM, 10/30/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 12 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.