NHL's Blue Jackets Look To Gambling Revenue For Financial Support

The NHL is one of the major sports in the US that frowns upon sports betting. Despite the resistance to gambling, one NHL teams is looking for casino revenue to help solve its financial problems and keep the team from relocation.

Voters in the state of Ohio approved four casinos, the first time in history that voters had approved a casino gambling plan. One of those casinos will be located in Columbus, a city where the NHL's Blue Jackets are located. The Blue Jackets are struggling financially and are looking for some assistance.

Blue Jackets President Mike Priest believes that the taxes generated from the casino would be a perfect way to help the Blue Jackets out of their financial mess. With other options failing, the casino revenue makes the most sense from Priest's point of view.

"I think it is the most viable solution, and it wouldn't require any other money being used," said Priest, "But it's up to the public sector to decide how it wants to use that money." Right now, the money that will be generated from the casino has not been marked for use.

The hockey team does have an economic impact on the surrounding area, and other options are being considered by the state to help the Blue Jackets. Those options include raising taxes on alcohol, hotels, and even rental cars. While they cannot afford to lose the Blue Jackets, a viable solution has yet to be presented.

Ohio became the latest in a long list of states that have expanded their gambling options last November. The four casinos are expected to bring millions of dollars in tax revenue and thousands of jobs to Ohio in the next couple of years. Lawmakers are also considering adding slot machines at state racetracks.

July 17, 2010
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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