Is Issue 6 a no or a go?
By Courtney Pellack
On Nov. 4, Ohioans will vote to approve or reject the construction of one $600 million casino resort to be operated in Chester Township in Clinton County, Ohio.
Issue 6 is the most publicized and controversial issue on the ballot this year.
Voting “yes” on issue 6 allows for the building and operation of one casino that will pay a “tax of 30 percent of its gross receipts for gaming less payouts,” according to the Ohio Secretary of State Web site.
“The taxes are to be used first to pay expenses of regulating and collecting taxes from the casino, then for funding of gambling prevention and treatment programs and the remainder to be distributed in the amount of 10 percent to Clinton County and 90 percent to the remaining counties based on population and to be used at each county’s discretion.”
Approving Issue 6 will also reduce taxes for the casino authorized by the amendment “to the less of the rate taxed on another casino or 25 percent, in the event another casino is permitted in Ohio in the future,” according to the Secretary of State, and “require that the casino be subject to all other applicable types of taxes that are currently in effect in Ohio.”
Supporters of the passage of Issue 6, like MyOhioNow.com based in Beachwood, Ohio, claim the new casino will create up to 5,000 jobs at an average pay of $34,000 plus benefits, and return about “$200 million yearly in gross receipts taxes and pay millions of dollars in State and Federal Taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, and employment compensation.”
“I think the State of Ohio is in a recession, heading to a depression. We need to make sure we can generate jobs and generate taxes,” explains Dr. Brad Pressman, of MyOhioNow, “We’re going to the voters. This is one of the few times voters can really stand up and grab power.”
Those against Issue 6 claim the amendment is filled with loopholes that could prevent operators of the casino of having to pay any casino taxes, supposedly if an Indian casino is subsequently built. It would also give the operators a casino monopoly with no regulation or local control, according to the group No On 6.
Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman for No On 6, says, “Our group is not opposed to expanding gambling in Ohio, but we think Issue 6 is the worst way to do it. It’s filled with loopholes.”
MyOhioNow counters the Indian casino claim by declaring that there are no federally recognized Indian Tribes in Ohio and no out of state Indian tribes have Ohio land held in trust by the Federal Government. Therefore, it is impossible for an Indian Casino to be built in the state, according to MyOhioNow.
Lakes Entertainment Inc. will develop the resort casino. MyOhioNow claims that the company has “no interest in developing an Indian casino in Ohio.”
However, No On 6 says that the passage of Issue 6 will “make Ohio a class III gambling state, making it easier for Indian casinos to open, which will reduce or eliminate proposed funds to Ohio counties.”
Opponents of Issue 6 add the casino will create new gambling addicts, and will hurt existing business in the area.
Other opponents are concerned that prostitution, crime, drugs and other social problems will be created with the casino.
MyOhioNow says “nationwide studies show that per capita crime in counties with casinos actually goes down after the casino is operating.” They add Las Vegas’ crime rate was lower than Orlando, Myrtle Beach, Miami, and Phoenix.
Pressman adds, “The opposition is one Indiana casino. They’re afraid we’re going to compete against them, so they’d rather buy an Ohio election.”
Tenenbaum counters by saying, “While it’s true the Indiana casino is funding the No On 6 campaign, the company trying to build the casino is funding the entire ‘yes’ campaign. It’s like calling the kettle black.”
If Issue 6 is passed, the casino will include a 1,500 room hotel with “Las Vegas-style gambling,” according to MyOhioNow.
The casino will house approximately 5,000 slots, 150 table games, a 20 table Poker Room, 8 restaurants, an event and entertainment center, golf course, and day care facility.
CSU student Matt Holdyk discusses his thoughts on Issue 6. “I probably won’t vote for it. The advertisements against it seemed more convincing than the ones for it,” he explains, “my parents aren’t going to vote for it either.”