Casino could be back on the ballot in November
From The Dispatch:
Casino in Columbus is part of latest proposal for Ohio vote, sources say
By James NashTwo gambling companies that were on opposite sides of last year’s unsuccessful campaign to put a casino in southwestern Ohio are poised to join forces on a new measure to build four casinos in the state.
The proposal would include a casino in Columbus, likely in the Arena District. The capital city was not included in the previous four gambling-related statewide ballot measures, all of which failed but drew support in areas where casinos were proposed.
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Related Tags: Arena District • casino • november 3 2009 ballot • Politics
February 26th, 2009 at 10:54 am
If we do a casino, it should go in a neighborhood that is already shitty so that in 5 years, when the casino gets shitty, it won’t take a vibrant neighborhood down with it.
February 26th, 2009 at 10:54 am
I think if we get casinos, we should put them in Dan Gilbert’s and Jeffrey Jacob’s neighborhoods.
February 26th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Hrm. Arena District, eh?
If this were going to be a Vegas-style casino, I would probably support it going into the Arena District as another form of entertainment. It could serve as an additional music/performance venue and have additional conference/meeting space to compliment the Convention Center.
But I just don’t see that happening. It sounds like what we’d be getting is a sad casino filled with sad people. More of an extension of the existing state lottery system than a real entertainment venue.
February 26th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Why the assumption that it is going to be a dump? Don’t you think the owners would want to make it nice to bring in more people who can afford to gamble and buy drinks, see a show, etc. and not just rely on gambling addicts playing penny slots?
February 26th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Jeffz, would you want it in your neighborhood?
February 26th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Just look at what a classy place Scioto Downs already is.
February 26th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Have you been to a casino not in Las Vegas? These gambling addicted penny-slots playing people are exactly who the casino owners are aiming for. A high roller from Shanghai won’t be coming to Columbus for gambling. Neither will a local person with a few hundred dollars to spend on a plane ticket and hotel in Las Vegas. Entertainment at the casino would likely be more Jakov Smirnoff than Celine Dion. (Though I don’t think I’d go to either :) ) Plus, we have plenty of great entertainment in town without a casino.
Especially with this economic downturn, people who have the sense to realize it are cutting recreational casino trips from their budgets. Las Vegas gambling revenue was down 15% last year. That’s the big player - how do you think a Columbus would fare?
February 26th, 2009 at 11:55 am
No, but I don’t think a casino would be appropriate in Victorian Village. In an entertainment district, which also includes a stadium, an arena, a movie theater, a concert venue, etc., I think it would be more appropriate.
Gambling is a societal ill. No question about it. But I don’t oppose a convenience store that sells alcohol in my neighborhood. Admittedly this analogy is flawed, but the idea is that the idea of a casino shouldn’t be demonized from the outset. For me it boils down to this–people are going to gamble one way or the other, so would you rather the tax revenue go to Ohio or MI, KY, IN, PA?
February 26th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Why not try not
February 26th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Or we could just build something that would add value to the community rather than siphon it off.
Like more business incubators.
February 26th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
JoeV said: “Have you been to a casino not in Las Vegas?”
My point exactly. The vast majority of casinos in the US are not nice/fancy/upscale venues. I’m not willing to assume that what they have in mind for Columbus is above the status quo.
But I’d love for them to prove me wrong. I do think that if any part of town is appropriate, it would be the downtown entertainment district. But I’m sure there are plenty of residents in that area that would disagree with me. ;) I would not like one in my neighborhood or any other primarily residential neighborhood.
February 26th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Donald Trump’s casinos just went into bankruptcy for the third time. I don’t think putting a new one here would be a good option.
February 26th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Hmmm … casino promoters want to build in Ohio. NRI wants to build Grandview Yard, but are having trouble finding tenants, and a “destination” draw for the new project.
Wait a minute - I believe someone though about this more than a year ago.
http://www.grandviewwatch.org/gw/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=332
February 26th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Build the thing already…Enough talk about it!! Lets bring something new to this place..
February 26th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
All the talk is needed, because there has to be an amendment to the State consitution to build any casino in Ohio. With Ohio voters rejecting three propositions in five years, it would seem talking would be needed if anyone’s mind were to change.
And if you think a casino is “something new” then I urge you to take a trip to Atlantic City.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Not a good idea. Actually, a downright BAD idea. Casinos offer very little economic benefit to the community. While some people will come from elsewhere to spend their money, most of the profits will just leave anyway. There is virtually no local economic multiplier. Casinos are also much more likely to magnify economic inequality. Broke people gamble away more than they can afford; rich folks don’t gamble much, except as entertainment dollars that they would spend locally anyway—only on something with a higher economic multiplier.
Pleeeeeeeease everyone do everything you can to not have this happen. If you like gambling, you don’t have to go too far. But please not in Ohio.
More economic and social info here, here (gated), here (possibly gated, not sure), here (gated), here, and here. If anyone wants the gated info, let me know.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Well in regards to Atlantic City, the reason why casinos went there is because it was a shithole to begin with. The fact that it’s a shithole now isn’t really a surprise.
I thought the casino in Windsor, Ontario was pretty nice. I don’t think anyone would be afraid of having that near them.
Then again, Canada has an enduring ability to pull off that sorta thing. (Ontario casinos are owned by the province of Ontario. I wouldn’t mind if the state owned our casinos, but that would be difficult politically.)
As much as I hate gambling, I consider casinos a necessary evil. We aren’t New York or Chicago, we don’t have ocean, and we don’t have year round beautiful weather. We need to work very hard to appeal to people, both tourists and residents. A well planned casino can help with that. I think a casino in the Arena district would be perfect.
The lottery, on the other hand, I despise. It’s got all the downsides of casino gambling with none of the upside. I’d love to eliminate the lottery and only have casinos.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Lotto’s also a losing bet, but at least the state gets the profits to reinvest in services (mostly education). Casino’s profits go straight out-of-state where the owners live. They then spend them elsewhere, doing nothing for our local economy.
Please don’t believe the simplified marketing! Remember, City Center was supposed to be a great idea, too. This one won’t work out, and will bring on a lot of costs that nobody mentions. It’s bad for everyone—except the out-of-state owners!
February 26th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
On the face of it, I can see the arguments. But outside of Vegas (Vegas probably fits in this though) the Casino towns I can think of are places where there are no other options. Towns and cities that have dried up or are based on one or two industries that have had set backs.
My mom’s hometown in Northern Ontario is a 1-2 industry town between the steel mill and the paper mill. They have a casino just off the USA-Canada bridge. I’m sure it helps the economy, but the locals are leaving. My cousins went to Southern Ontario for school and jobs.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
This is a tired trick that will not make our city better. People need to get over the “we need something big” idea regarding revitalization. It has more often than not failed or not lived up to the hype. Much more important is smart infill, not some panacea. We need to fill in High St. while also offering alternatives to it.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Amen.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Jamesm you are so right . but i think everyone has really good points. So it sounds like we can do with or with out it. either way sounds like it wont help columbus that much or hurt much either.
I cant decide
February 26th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
I don’t think I would mind the revival of the race track slots idea. Here in Columbus you have Scioto Downs. Putting casino-like attractions there wouldn’t have nearly the impact plopping a casino in downtown would have.
Yeah, smart infill, smart growth is the way to go.
February 26th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
new to OHIO
February 26th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Big idea or not it would be a nice addition of things to do in this state…We need lots of options and a casino is much needed in this lacking state..this is coming from a new yorker