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Tomorrow Never Dies (For Casinos)
- Filed under: Ohio
- Date: Nov 15,2008
Not a post about the new Bond movie.
PD: Backers of Issue 6, the most recent failed effort, say they now are planning a referendum that would establish casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Youngstown and Toledo, as well as Wilmington in Clinton County.
Good map breakdown there of overall county voting of the previous 4 failed referendums. One of the main reasons (though there were a few) that Issue 6 went down in flames this year was that the fact there would only be one casino in one county. It did however get a majority in Clinton County, where it was to be located, and three surrounding counties. Not so good elsewhere. Speaking for myself, I was against Issue 6. Full 2008 statewide results here.
The new plan would have a better chance of succeeding than the previous issues that have failed. In 2006 the plan to allow slot machines in nine locations scattered throughout the state got 43% of the vote – the highest share a "yes" vote has gotten in Ohio. The PD analysis shows that voters closer to the actual location of the casino tend to be more likely to support it. The casino folks know this and are retooling appropriately.
Issue 6 proponent Rick Lertzman said he and his partners are putting together a coalition of new backers in the six counties where the casinos would be located. He said his objective is to present a united front and avoid bickering among different parts of the state.
Eventually a casino will be built in Ohio. Just because it has been defeated statewide four times now doesn't mean we have heard the last of it. There is too much money for the casino owners to make to give up (Oops, I mean they care too much about the well-being of Ohioans to give up). It might happen next time or the time after or the time after that. But one of these days, the casino people are going to get the right proposal with the right message (tie in with a small reduction on property taxes?) on the ballot at the right time. If the economy stays in the tank here, which based on our high taxes and poor business climate it probably will, conditions are more ripe for passage.
Unless Ohio stars raking it in through Keno. I played for the second time last night and ended up donating $3 to the state. Probably going to need a little more than that, as participation so far hasn't lived up to expectations.
8 Responses for "Tomorrow Never Dies (For Casinos)"
It is kind of like gay marriage. You just keep bringing it up until the people get it right.
Over and over, and over and over until they squeak it thru. They always pull off the well being of the children B.S. then there is always a switch. Remember the Ohio lottery and Gilligan's "We'll never need another levy in Ohio again" sales pitch? How many Akron alone levy increases have we had since then?
If everyone wants to gamble in Ohio why don't we just visit the (so called) Churches that have Las Vegas nights? How about going to the local associations that have a bingo hall and support the local pee-wee's? If we have gambling finally passed here in Ohio will not people be leaving their neigborhoods to go to these state controlled casino's?
Also you guys look for the new bloggers who will be constantly barraging this blog with the pro casino sales pitches while hammering on the ones against it. It's called free add revenue.
Is it possible for them do bring it up for a vote in an off year where turnout would be lower? I dont know the law.
Hi, thanks for the great information.
I've always wondered why the state can run all these lotteries, but casinos are not allowed ? Not to mention the racetracks, bingo, etc. Very hypocritical.
The ad campaign blitz against issue 6 was run primarily by another organization that wants to bring IT'S casinos to Ohio. That was the name of that tune.
Not like Ohio needs jobs or anything. We seem to be the anti-job state.
Chris Dudley, they plan to bring the issue back in 2009–an off-year election.
That doesn't mean it will pass. In fact, the younger voter turnout (attracted by Obama) in 2008 and the heavy union turnout (attracted by the minimum wage issue) in 2006 may mean that we've seen the high-water mark for casino support in the last two elections that it was on the ballot.
Demand for casinos is dropping. The revenues at the casinos in neighboring states prove it. Not only that, but the bankruptcies of some well known casinos in Nevada also show it. One can even look at how the Trump casino franchise is faring. There is no groundswell clamoring for casinos. It's just a corrupt inner circle of greedy fatcats that clamor for more victims to prey upon. If the casino backers gain access to Ohio, their property might turn into a brownfield just after they get the thing built. But the casino backers aren't thinking with their heads. Greed drives their every decision.
Of course, the mafia will always want to have casinos, especially as the global economy ratchets up the demand that businesses be transparent. Casino operations aren't transparent, and never will be, and thus remain the most convenient venue for organized crime to launder their money at.
I'll always be voting against gambling measures, casino or otherwise, no matter how often they appear on the ballot.
GO CASINOS!!!! GO McCain!!!
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