Ohio Casino Group Wins Effort To Have Expanded Gambling On Ballot

The casino gambling fight in Ohio is about to get down and dirty. On Tuesday, the Ohio Growth and Jobs Committee received the good news from Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner that she certified the casino issue for the ballot in November.

The group had to obtain 402,000 signatures from around the state in order to have the proposal put before the voters in the next election. The Committee turned in over 800,000 signatures, but many of them were thrown out.

The proposal on the table would bring four new casino resorts to Ohio. Four major cities, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Columbus would all receive new casinos. The plan is being fought by some old school lawmakers.

Before the issue ever gets to the ballot, a legal battle will occur. The battle is already headed for the state Supreme Court, with opponents claiming that the signatures were obtained in an unethical manner. The Committee denies the allegations that they tricked people into signing the petitions.

Brunner, while certifying the ballot issue, admitted that this was not the end of the road. Her office has launched an investigation into how the signatures were obtained. All of the findings of the investigation will be turned over to Attorney General Richard Cordray.

MTR Gaming Group, through its subsidiary, Scioto Downs, has already filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court to stop the casino movement from going forward. The track has an interest in keeping casinos out of Ohio after Governor Ted Strickland signed an executive order that will bring slot gambling to state racetracks.

July 22, 2009
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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