Monroe Chat

What do you think of this casino issue? Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland are the places that will be home to a casino according to this bill. Jobs will come with the casino too. I think it will pass this time because of the current economy and the need for jobs. Here is the million dollar question that maybe somebody will know.


What impact will Issue 3 have on the proposed Indian Casino in Monroe? I remember the reasoning why the process has stalled is because the Indian Tribe must apply for permit of some sorts to get the casino built and that takes years to get that done. But...... If the state becomes what I think a Class A Gambling State which means slots and casinos are legal in Ohio. Then the Indian Tribe can bypass that process and build their casino in a much quicker fashion. My gut tells me if Issue 3 passes it will put the Monroe Casino in the speed lane to reality.

I believe the issue is the permit would the allow Indian casino a level equal to whatever is allowed in the state. Ohio allows lotteries and slot machines, so that is what the Indian casino would be allowed. My guess is they decided that that would not be attractive to visitors so they put their plans on hold.

Issue would allow table gaming, so the Indians could also have table gaming. I believe you are correct, that would stoke the fires for the Indian casino.

(If you read the Voice you have already this, and I apologize for the redundancy)
I do not believe that the constitution is the place to address specific businesses. If we want to vote on gambling law, I would support an amendment as such. But writing in a casino for a specific person I do not believe is what our constitutional process is for.
In addition to that the Issue 3 is being underwritten mainly by Penn National Gaming, a company that spent $25 million just last year for a Kansas casino - then backed out of the deal. Penn could do the same here. Penn National operates casinos in Indiana near Cincinnati and owns Toledo Raceway Park. It does not seem to me that Penn's best interest would be to build a Cinci casino, double its overhead and split its customer base.
Issue 3 ONLY allows for four specific sites in the state, it does not require them to be built, only specifies where and guarentees by whom IF they will be built.

(My personal feeling is that Penn is sponsoring the Cincinnati and Toledo areas to NOT build and lock in business for their existing casinos. This will result in no Ohio gaming dollars on the westside of the state, ever.)

BORDER STATES WOULD DICTATE CASINO LAW TO OHIO - Here is the EXACT wording from the proposed amendment:
Allow at these four casino facilities the types of slot machine and table game wagering currently authorized in, and any future slot machine and table game wagering authorized in, any of the neighboring States of Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania. and West Virginia.
Ohioans would NEVER have any say in the type of gaming at its casinos, likewise Monroe citizens will have no say in the gaming at the proposed Indian casinos.

Issue 3 Hard caps the payout of the casinos to the state at 33% forever - no more, no less, ever. As for other states, when Pennsylvania used competitive bidding, its new casino agreed to pay 55 percent of its profits in taxes, and as far as existing tax rates for casinos go: New York's 57 percent, Maryland's 67 percent and Rhode Island's 71 percent. Thanks to competition, a casino planned for Illinois will pay a $400 million licensing fee.

Issue 3 also requires that Ohio "Establish the Ohio Casino Control Commission to licens and regulate casino gaming..."
and goes on to "Require that casino gaming be conducted only by authorized casino operators of these four casino facilities..." Many are reading this as the end to Monte Carlo or Casino Nights run as charity events, as well as others.