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The Ohio Supreme Court today cleared the way for a proposal for four casinos to appear on the November ballot.

In a unanimous ruling, the court slapped down a challenge to a petition containing more than 450,000 valid signatures to put the casino proposal before voters.

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There are lots of unique issues in border areas. I doubt folks driving to other states to gamble in a few areas is a huge problem (has anyone complained of local strain yet?). If it is a problem, we can surely tackle it in a more efficient and direct manner than through putting other communities in Ohio at risk by building casinos.

I’ll listen to other arguments besides economic ones. Economically, there is just no benefit. Have a look at the links I posted earlier. At the very best it’s a wash. Real development and real progress doesn’t aim to break even.

Honestly, the biggest local economic impact of casinos is probably their continued multi-million dollar campaigns to try and win a referendum. That’s about all we’ll get out of it. After that, lifeontwowheels is right: casino profits leave Columbus and Ohio. Quickly.

Any casino building is going to be uniquely singular use. If the casino dries up (with profits down in Vegas, who can really say what would happen here) you have another city center on our hands.

Any casino will probably be new build. And this really doesn’t play out well. In the AD, the only large tracks of land I can think of are ones being tossed around for the Giant Eagle and the 3C station. Across the river in Franklinton I can only see large tracts of residential being displaced for the casino. In downtown you either have the City Center property (just imagine someone coming to visit the Statehouse and having the slots across the street) or the untapped east end along Long and Spring. Do we really want to see the potential of that space (residential and commerical) laid under by a casino building. Not to mention concerns over how they would handle parking. Thankfully downtown has a pretty good review commission that would probably handle things well.

Is the casino owner going to have Columbus interests at heart? Or is it all profits? Our local business owners (small and large) have done an amazing job at becoming an intregral part in developing our city in a pretty positive way and still being able to turn profits. Making money and a succesful business, while working to better the community have not been exclusive enterprises in Columbus history.  Wexner has given us Easton, Nationwide the AD. Others have built up the SN and others are working at reviving downtown.

If Cincy and Toledo want the casinos it’s their business. I think Columbus has too much to still offer to go this route.

Before anyone else says “we could use the tax revenue,” please do a little more reading on the cost/benefit analysis and economics of casinos.

Is a casino going to add measured value to us as residents or citizens? By that, I mean is this something we can find use for on a weekly basis? Are you going to hit the slots every night? Every week?

I love the times I go to Cedar Point. Should we build an amusement park downtown so our money stops going to Sandusky or Orlando?

We can find something that provides an attraction to visitors, brings people downtown and adds value for the immediate residents.

Everyone always talks about the poor, broke bastards at casinos.  But i have yet to see those bastards in any great number at any of the casinos I’ve been to.

Lots of people are losing their shirts in the stock market & housing market, too.  Should we prevent those poor, broke bastards from doing so?

Where does it end?  Why are some people so comfortable telling people they don’t know how they should spend their money?

most of the new downtown housing is tax abated for 10 years, so the rest of us get to help carry their free loading/riding selves

same reason you have to go to a state store to buy booze, or be 18 to smoke, or wear a helmet on a motorcycle in some states or why we put child proof caps on medicine bottles…because if you make dumb things/ideas too easy for dumb people to get to them, you have more social ills. Its not the nanny state, it is the oh god protect me from the idiots and lunatics. I fear crime less than I fear  some poor broke bastard who keeps buying lotto tickets and thinking today is my lucky day….hoo boy a sucker really is born ever minute.

See I don’t think that is you’re back yard Boi . Do you live in Franklinton Or Downtown ?
It is separated but a river and I think that area personally has a lot of potential for it minus a casino.
It has plenty of area for shops and restaurants. It could be a great area and throwing a casino on it the way it is right now is the worst thing possible. We need and want improvements not a casino .  I think you may be missing the bigger picture here but new is cool when it don’t have ill effects on society and the places we live.  I am not anti- Casino I am anti where people think they should be
 

ETA: what about the property taxes down there they would go way up right? So really as high as they could get don’t you think the revenue will end up being used to supplement new programs for people that can no longer afford to be there ? There are many things that go into this that I think it is beyond you or I or anyone that knows nothing about urban planning.