2008 Woodie Awards
Ohio gambling
Officials, students differ on casino proposal
Melinda Gray REPORTER
Issue date: 10/16/08 Section: News
Freshman Brittany Andrews sees this money as potential for Youngstown.
"I'm definitely for it," Andrews said of the gambling issue. "My dad works at Mountaineer, so it will give him a chance to work closer to home. Plus, it will bring money into the economy. Youngstown needs as much money intake as it can get."
Freshman Ashley Zehentbauern, also a supporter of the issue, cited proximity as an advantage.
"My parents go to West Virginia to gamble all the time. If there was somewhere closer, it would save them gas," Zehentbauer said.
Despite this, senior Victor Bozis said he was against the issue and predicted that the implementation of a casino would have a negative effect on the surrounding areas.
"Although it will bring jobs into the area, the areas surrounding the casino will become ghost towns. I've seen it happen around Las Vegas," Bozis said.
Mayor Coleman of Columbus does not support the issue, although he does not hold blanket opposition to casino gambling. He does have a problem with the wording of this amendment and what it could mean in the future.
"Maybe someday a casino issue will come along that I will support, just not today and not this issue," Coleman said.
Still, the issue leaves open the possibility of American Indian casinos being built and run tax-free anywhere in Ohio when the law is changed. According to the Vote No Casinos committee the Shawnee, an Oklahoma-based tribe, has been struggling for years to win federal approval to open one or more casinos in Ohio.
At NoIssue6.com, a site devoted to stopping the casino, detractors point out that in the wording of the amendment there is a possibility for loopholes. The amendment clearly states that if other casinos were to be built in Ohio, then the casino in Clinton County would not have to pay more than the lesser of the other casinos' 25 percent tax or the lowest percentage rate paid by the other casinos.
In this case, the Shawnee casinos would pay no tax, therefore the Clinton County casino would pay no tax. When asked about this, Lakes Entertainment Inc. stated that they did not mean for the wording to allow a zero percentage tax rate and that they are working on fixing it.
Additional reporting by Emmalee Torisk.
"I'm definitely for it," Andrews said of the gambling issue. "My dad works at Mountaineer, so it will give him a chance to work closer to home. Plus, it will bring money into the economy. Youngstown needs as much money intake as it can get."
Freshman Ashley Zehentbauern, also a supporter of the issue, cited proximity as an advantage.
"My parents go to West Virginia to gamble all the time. If there was somewhere closer, it would save them gas," Zehentbauer said.
Despite this, senior Victor Bozis said he was against the issue and predicted that the implementation of a casino would have a negative effect on the surrounding areas.
"Although it will bring jobs into the area, the areas surrounding the casino will become ghost towns. I've seen it happen around Las Vegas," Bozis said.
Mayor Coleman of Columbus does not support the issue, although he does not hold blanket opposition to casino gambling. He does have a problem with the wording of this amendment and what it could mean in the future.
"Maybe someday a casino issue will come along that I will support, just not today and not this issue," Coleman said.
Still, the issue leaves open the possibility of American Indian casinos being built and run tax-free anywhere in Ohio when the law is changed. According to the Vote No Casinos committee the Shawnee, an Oklahoma-based tribe, has been struggling for years to win federal approval to open one or more casinos in Ohio.
At NoIssue6.com, a site devoted to stopping the casino, detractors point out that in the wording of the amendment there is a possibility for loopholes. The amendment clearly states that if other casinos were to be built in Ohio, then the casino in Clinton County would not have to pay more than the lesser of the other casinos' 25 percent tax or the lowest percentage rate paid by the other casinos.
In this case, the Shawnee casinos would pay no tax, therefore the Clinton County casino would pay no tax. When asked about this, Lakes Entertainment Inc. stated that they did not mean for the wording to allow a zero percentage tax rate and that they are working on fixing it.
Additional reporting by Emmalee Torisk.
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Payday Loan Advocate
posted 10/28/08 @ 1:14 AM EST
While he?s made no bones about his opposition to the payday loan and cash advance industries, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has a new friend that he?s fighting on behalf of: the state?s community of gamblers. (Continued…)
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