Columbus Casino Location Change Not Expected To Face Opposition

Voters in the state of Ohio approved casino gambling last year for the first time in history. Now, less than a year after that change of heart, voters in the state will once again be asked a casino question on the May ballot.

This time around, however, there is not expected to be a lot of opposition to the ballot question. The state is asking voters to approve a change of location for a Columbus casino from the Arena District to the former Delphi Auto Parts plant.

Originally, the question on the ballot last year was site specific. Once the casino gambling was approved for Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo, some Columbus business groups took objection to the site of the casino.

The city has worked hard to make the Arena District a family friendly area, and the mayor went to Penn National Gaming, the developer building the casino, and asked if they would consider other locations. After short negotiations, all parties agreed on the former Delphi plant.

It was not as simple as just making an agreement, however. Voters would have to approve the change, and that will come this May. Little resistance has been seen to the new plan, outside of the gambling opponents who were against the original law change.

If the ballot measure fails in May, which is highly unanticipated, Penn National would be forced to go back to the original plan of building the new casino in the Arena District. The original proposal is in a location where the Columbus Blue Jackets hockey team plays their home games.

March 29, 2010
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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