Columbus Begins Resistance Of Casino With Grant Request

First, voters in the state of Ohio changed their minds on casino gambling after years of resistance. Now, the city of Columbus is fighting the new law that would bring a casino to their city.

Columbus officials have made an official request to return a $750,000 grant that was given to them by the state. The grant was supposed to be used to clean up land that would be used for new condominiums. Instead, it appears the land will be used for a new casino.

Plaza Properties owns the land, but Penn National has worked out a deal with Plaza to make the site the location of their Columbus casino. Columbus officials, weary that their residents do not want the casino in their city, have now cried foul.

The officials claim that when they applied for the grant, Plaza Properties claimed the land was to be used for condos. Now, the officials believe that Plaza and Penn National have changed the plan for the land without the approval of Columbus.

The arena District has become a source of controversy since the November election. The casino initiative clearly stated that the Arena District would be the location of the Columbus casino, but officials in the city are now claiming that the majority of their residents voted against the initiative.

The rest of Ohio voted in favor of four new casinos. The other three casinos will be built in Toledo, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. None of those three cities have complained about the casino. In fact, the other cities are looking forward to the revenue and job creation that can be generated from the new casinos.

December 17, 2009
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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