Joe Hallett commentary: Reasons to oppose casinos are many | Th...

After casinos opened in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1996, with nearby Omaha, Neb., providing most of the gamblers, a major grocery-store chain reported a 15 percent drop in food purchases.

[Chris Scott]

I've lived in Columbus for the better part of 50 years. Columbus is what it is. A middle sized city in the center of Ohio that lots of people care for but it is not a major tourist destination. Most of the money that these casino's will collect will come from central Ohioians. The accounts of the negative impacts that have been reported are true. This issue has to be defeated because all of our business's will be adversely impacted with these in our communities.

[Miss Rosie]

Too bad that this editorial can not be in every newspaper in Ohio. The voters need to know the facts. I am afraid they don't understand the ramifications if Issue 3 passes.Small town papers don't have the reporters to cover this type of story and rarely pick up on AP stories.I just hope the voters have enough sense, NOT to gamble the State away for a few men!

[Well Put]

Vote NO! I don't want casinos in my State as "quick fix" for short-term financial woes. Gambling destroys lives.

[Eddie C]

Lots of people think that issue 3 is going to be a quick fix for our economy. Sounds good but, there will be huge consequenses to our society and our business community. If this passes it can't be changed without a constitutional amendment. Think long and hard before you vote.

[ROCKETTRAVELLER]

I'm voting NO. Not because I dislike gaming. I don't like that Penn and Gilbert get it all. As a business owner I would like a couple of slots in my store like other states allow. This type of measure would allow local business who would be hurt by casinos to stay in business.

If issue 3 passes which it will probably will then Strickland needs to get the average business involved with changes to the law. For example ORC 2915 and allow cash payouts on skill stop slots. Tax every machine $500 per year. That would send a message to the casinos you can't have it all. Don't make Gilbert and Penn National zillionaires. Local business will be hurt. You can help them so there not. Come on George do the right thing for once before you leave office.

[Drummer Jim]

Issue 3 has many benefits. Thousands of jobs created, and millions in tax revenue to distressed local communities and cities.
Millions of dollars already flow to neighboring states. It's time to keep those dollars in Ohio. Gambling opponents say the jobs are lousy or temporary. Tell that to the thousands of unemployed Ohioans.

[Eddie C]

Drummer Jim wrote:

Issue 3 has many benefits. Thousands of jobs created, and millions in tax revenue to distressed local communities and cities.
Millions of dollars already flow to neighboring states. It's time to keep those dollars in Ohio. Gambling opponents say the jobs are lousy or temporary. Tell that to the thousands of unemployed Ohioans.

If gambling is so good then why is unemployment in Las Vegas 13.9% right now? We don't want this.

[Drummer Jim]

Eddie C wrote:

<quoted text>
If gambling is so good then why is unemployment in Las Vegas 13.9% right now? We don't want this.

First of all, the casinos are the largest employer in Nevada. This won't be the case in Ohio. Secondly, jobs will be created in Ohio, lowering the unemployment rate. Nevada also doesn't have a state income tax,and Las Vegas doesn't have a city income tax, because of all the revenue raised by casinos. I would think this might be something you would like, considering Columbus just raised the city income tax.

[UNOisTru]

I have nothing against gambling, however if we really want to allow gambling in this state let's make the licensing open to the high bidder.

Let's open gambling up to the small businesses in Ohio such as taverns and restaurants that may want to have a few slot machines. If you want X number of slot machines, that will be X dollars per machine and X% of the profits. Everything could be run over the network much like the lottery terminals are currently.

This would legitimize the small gambling parlors that have sprung up across the state and put the monies from gambling into the local economies instead of into the pockets of a few pre-selected millionaires from out-of-state.

Want to go bigger and open a full-blown casino? That will be X dollars and X% of the profits.

Why limit casinos to the 'big 4' cities? Why not a riverboat casino in say Marietta or Steubenville? If you look at the location of the proposed casinos, a large portion of the state is STILL closer to an out-of-state casino instead of an in-state one. Where do you think that these people will continue to go? This is especially true in South Eastern Ohio.

We have already predetermined which of the 'good ole boys network' millionaires will receive the gains from this before we ever even vote on it.

The profits will mostly go out-of-state and will not benefit the cities and counties that so badly need the money.

In all, issue 3 is a bad deal for the people of the State of Ohio.

[ramseyjames]

Don't listen to all the lies and phony rhetoric! More jobs, more tax money, more tourism!!!
Vote "YES" on Issue 3!!!

[Rob]

I don't live in Ohio and you all are free to vote however you wish. But think abou this. The casino companies that are not based in your state come in promising riches like jobs, revenue and tourism. All they ask for is a new law, one they've written themselves. They'll change it over time to suit their needs. They don't give a crap about you or your state, they see revenue for themselves.

[Media 202]

Who is paying for the anti-Issue 3 game called Truth Pac, none other than Jeff Jacobs of Mountaineer in West Virgina. They want to keep those Ohio dollars in their casino.

Lie-Pac has spent millions of dollars to keep Ohioans gambling in West Virginia.

Think about it.

[ramseyjames]

Hallett = Marrison SUCK-UP!

[john campbell jr]

Yes, we should vote for issue 3 on tuesday, what about all the money that is leaving Ohio for these other states - thats money Ohio needs now. Where are your studies to show the increase in stste tax revenues that these states recieced from non-state residents bringing their "tourist gaming dollars" for food, lodging, transportation,etc these amounts I am sure more than makeup for some individual grocery store that may loose some sales. Were studies done to see if thes grocery stores raised their prices after the casino's opened? This would cause sales to decrease. And then dont forget about the "new" tax paying jobs as well as taxes on any casino winnings that individuals have get.Yes, I for one am still voting for issue 3, Ohio needs it to pass.

[Hayduke]

ramseyjames wrote:

Don't listen to all the lies and phony rhetoric! More jobs, more tax money, more tourism!!!
Vote "YES" on Issue 3!!!

Just who is going to come to Ohio to gamble???
People from West Virginia ??..From Indiana??....Michigan????
There are NOT enough gamblers in Ohio to keep casinos going...
There are NOT enough gamblers to keep the racetracks going..
Ohio had to join a multi-state lottery....may join another one....and still the lottery is fading.....

[Topper]

People drive hours out of state to gamble....but insist they are NOT addicted to gambling

[rebel]

Well Put wrote:

Vote NO! I don't want casinos in my State as "quick fix" for short-term financial woes. Gambling destroys lives.

Gambling does not destroy lives PEOPLE DO!

[WonderingWondere r]

Hallett thinks playing the "misery" card will convince Ohioans to be morally outraged at all the sins that will come our way if Issue 3 is passed. To bad Mr. Hallett and the paper he writes for are so enamored with the values of Mr. Voinovich, Joe's old camping buddy and enabler of Bush-era wars, tax cuts and Big Pharma deals, that show no equally indignant outrage for policies that allow giant corporations to do as much or more damage to individuals and families than gambling will to the relative few who lose more than they win here or elsewhere. To bad Mr. Hallett's selective outrage isn't directed more often to the "misery" that corporate greed can reign down on Ohioans, who have repeatedly been taken to the cleaners by predator companies we all know and love -- banks, credit card companies, insurers, mortgage lenders, etc. Instead those poor souls are told that government isn't there to be their crutch in life and, anyway, they only need to exercise their personal responsibility. Jolt'n Joe likes to turn on and off his spigot of moral indignation to fit the issue. Hey, Joe, Ohio had decades to work out its own great gambling deal -- but it didn't. Now, when the Issue 3 guys have nearly got their boulder to the crest of the hill, you want it to fall downhill again. The Ohio legislature, which has come awake now that it's poised to pass, wants to take a crack at a better deal. Too late. Anyway, lawmaker will only "dither" even more, because, like Voinovich, they will mis-apply their Bible principles to the wrong case at the wrong time. Let's pop Ohio's cherry once and for all. Vote for Issue 3.

[NW Leo]

The location that has been designated for the Toledo casino is removed from any other attractions whatsoever. While the casino in Columbus would at least be adjacent to the arena distict, the one in Toledo will have a breath-taking view of the port facility docks.

Maybe a few Great Lakes sailors will saunter in to spend their water-logged paychecks. But I doubt it.

Hardcore gamblers in NW Ohio will still be relatively close to three casinos in Detroit and the nightlife in Windsor, Ontario. In other words, a lot more action than the Toledo casino is likely to offer. It will probably become a dreary den for gaming addicts, bored-and-soon-to-be-broke retirees, and various and sundry riff-raff.

[brat]

we have an editor and senior editor of the same paper slamming casinos. people are going to gamble. it's a money making proposition.
if the economy supported a new mall opening, do you really think there would not be any change in crime stats?
grow up, get over it. it's 2009, not 1950.