Gambling in Ohio

Maybe legalizing gambling in Ohio is for the best, therefore more job opportunities. It has been calculated that the average casino workers wage would be $26,300 a year. For about 2% of the casino jobs would pay $80,000 a year for salary. Studies have predicted that legalizing gambling and building casinos in Ohio would present 39,251 jobs to our Ohio residents. (Jones) Many Ohio residents, especially the ones that live close to the borders of Cincinnati, Toledo and Cleveland travel to other states to spend their gambling dollars. They spend $1.4 billion a year, in Indiana, Pennsylvania West Virginia and Michigan. This in return does not help Ohio out, it helps neighboring states. (Coolidge,”Casino can’t revive”) In November 2009 voters passed legalizing gambling in Ohio, 53% of Ohio residents supported gambling. (Jones) On the contrary 29 out of 88 counties in Ohio support the building of casinos in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. The grounds are being cleared and they will start the building process. (Coolidge,”Casino can’t revive”) If everything goes as planned the casinos will be opening up in 2012, bringing $1.9 billion into the local economy in the next seven years. (Coolidge,”Casino can’t revive”)

The definition of gambling is the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning. How gambling started is generally described by three different time periods. The first time period gambling became big was during the colonial period it lasted until the middle of the 1800s. The second time gambling got popular was at the end of the Civil War, but then it tampered off at the beginning of the 20^th century. The third and last “wave” of gambling started during the Great Depression and it really has never ended. Professor I. Nelson Rose described it as a wave but since the last period has not ended, he described it more as an explosion. The first and second wave of gambling ended due to public concerns and scandals going on. A reason for the third wave to possible end would be fraud. Learning how to beat the system is always a big threat to casinos. (Willard)

Bringing jobs to Ohio is very important to the residents. The economy is not at its best right now, therefore more job opportunities are great. The casinos being built would at least bring 19,000 jobs to construction works to build them. (Willard) In May of 2009, an amount of 264,200 people have jobs because of the casinos in the US. An estimate for the hourly wage for a casino in 2009 was $14.02 hourly. A University of Cincinnati study conducted a study that if the casinos were built it would bring around 39,251 jobs. In addition a $4 billion economical impact for Ohio. Out of the total jobs that are predicted, 2,800 are permanent. (Coolidge”city-casino alliance”)

Taxes are one of the reasons that got Issue 3 to pass in 2009. From each of the four casinos there will be a 33% gross revenue tax. Of the, 51% would be distributed to Ohio’s 88 counties. Another 34% would go to each of the public school districts. The 15% left would be dived for the host cities and law enforcement. There is a projected amount of $651 million in annual tax distribution to cities and countries in Ohio. Issue 3 the casino amendment has been the best plan presented to Ohio voters in the past 20 years. (Coolidge”city-casino alliance”)

The main argument for the casino is that it could stop the outgoing amount of $1.4 billion in one year to neighboring states. Proponents estimate it could keep about $1 billion of that in Ohio, and then add money spent by visitors. The city of Cincinnati is estimated to get $20.9 million, Hamilton County would get $12.2 million and a $14.1 million would go to the school districts. For the Cincinnati casino it would bring in estimated revenue of $20.9 million a year. (Coolidge”city-casino alliance”)

A downside to the casino being built in Cincinnati, Ohio is the loss of the largest parking lot, with more than 2000 parking spots. (Coolidge”city-casino alliance”) This 22 acre lot is located Reading Road and Broadway. City officials say there could be a new parking garage and expanding current ones. Temporarily there is nothing that will help out with the missing 2000 parking spots. To help parking in the future, Rock Gaming said they have considered allowing some public parking at the casino once it is built. (Coolidge”casion downtown”) City parking officials are considering a huge remake of the 260-space, city owned garage at the corner Seventh Street and Broadway. The improved garage could possibly have 1,050 parking spots.

An enquire analysis show that within the decade, no casino has yet achieved the full goal of tax revenue and the job opportunities outside of Nevada and New Jersey. The casinos in Pittsburg, St. Louis and Detroit are up and running, but working hard to attract the customers to pay the bills. Will the Cincinnati casino be described as this in 2012 when it is built? These cities have learned that the gambling revenues aren’t always correct. (Coolidge”casion downtown”)

A downfall for the casinos being built is gambling addictions. The money that is going into our economy is from our Ohio residents. Some individuals are unable to control themselves and resist form the urge to gamble. Gambling problems are rising at an alarming rate in the US. Could the casinos just bring more debt to Ohio homes and families? The people that have gambling issues can easily go to the casino that is located in Kentucky, which isn’t too far away.

Altogether gambling sounds like a sensible solution to Ohio’s unemployment rates, and the cities low tax income. Casinos will help employee people and families to help the slow economy. Issue 3, authorizing gambling in Ohio, passed in 2009 due to the majority of the community. Some may not agree but the residents do not know what truly can and cannot happen, until they see and try it for themselves. Ohio residents traveling outside of the state will be saving gas, and also money they would have spent on a hotel room, when now they can just go home. If you are losing your money to a slot machine, or a black jack game, shouldn’t it go to Ohio and its residents, not other states? Gambling is not always bad especially when it is helping your community out in return.