In an attempt to alleviate financial burdens within the state, a number of mayors -including those of Cleveland, Cincinnati and Lorain -have recently supported a statewide ballot issue that would give Ohio cities with at least 50,000 residents the authority to legalize casino gambling in their cities. It also would allow counties that draw 1 million tourists or more per year to have casino gambling. The ballot issue passed its first hurdle last Friday when Attorney General Jim Petro approved the language on the petitions, and if enough signatures are collected -it will require more than 322,000 signatures from at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties -then the issue would appear on the November ballots. Despite the age-old criticisms against gambling, it is time for the state and its citizens to seriously consider casino gambling as a one of many possible solutions to the state's economic problems.
Establishment of casino gambling is a logical step for the state to pursue in the current economic climate. Although voters rejected similar ballot issues in 1990 and 1996, legalized gambling is no longer an odious business practice in polite society. With the establishment of legalized gambling in virtually all Ohio's neighboring states -Michigan, Indiana and West Virginia -it makes little sense for Ohio to not cash in on the revenue. Instead of keeping casinos illegal in the state, Ohio should pursue its own gaming facilities and provide residents with their desired recreation. By doing so, the state could generate millions of dollars currently being earned by other states and also capitalize on the jobs created by the construction of casinos.
There are other potential problems with legalized gambling aside from the criticism that casinos might increase crime and prostitution, which are valid concerns but simply do not outweigh the economic benefits. Opponents of gambling also say that casinos could enable problem gamblers to easily feed their addictions. Though that is a serious problem for both the state and the afflicted individuals to consider it would be impossible to keep problem gamblers from casinos. As mentioned before, casinos in neighboring states already attract large numbers of Ohioans, and problem gamblers are almost certainly among them. A possible solution to this concern would be for the state to use some of the money generated from the casinos to finance programs to aid gambling addicts, which without the extra revenue generated from casinos the state -because of a tight budget -probably would not have money to fund the programs.
It is no secret that casino gambling brings with it immense revenue but also potential problems. However, with Ohio's current economic state, the benefits far outweigh the detriments. Come November, it is only fair to allow Ohio's registered voters to decide gambling's fate.
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Ohio should choose casino gambling
