Ohio Business Votes

State Issue 6 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would authorize the establishment and operation of one privately-owned casino in Ohio. It specifies that this casino will be located at the intersection of State Route 73 and Interstate 71 in Clinton County, near Wilmington. MyOhioNow, an Ohio corporation formed by two Ohio residents, Dr. Bradford Pressman and Rick Lertzman, in partnership with Lakes Entertainment, a Minnesota-based casino development and management company, is responsible for placing the issue on the ballot.

If adopted, any gaming activities permitted by the State of Nevada or any state adjacent to Ohio, with the exception of bets on races or sporting events, would be allowed in Ohio.

The proposal would require the developers to make a minimum $600 million initial investment to develop the casino and a resort hotel. The current development timetable foresees construction commencing within 12-18 months after Issue 6 is approved, with the casino resort opening approximately 18 months after the start of construction.

The amendment also requires that the casino pay a gross casino receipts tax of up to 30 percent, as well as be subject to all other applicable taxes currently in effect in Ohio. It stipulates that the casino’s collected gross receipts taxes must be used by the state first to cover expenses due to regulating and collecting taxes from the casino, then to fund gambling prevention and treatment programs, with the remainder to be distributed among all 88 Ohio counties. Clinton County would receive 10% of the remainder, while the rest would be divided among the other 87 counties based on population. No stipulations are placed on how the counties could spend this money.

Proponents believe Issue 6 would provide economic benefits to the entire state through the distribution of the gross receipts tax revenue, create up to 5,000 new jobs, attract out-of-state tourist dollars, and keep the money spent by Ohioans who wish to gamble in Ohio, rather than seeing it go to casinos in surrounding states. They expect the casino to generate $800 million in gross gaming revenue annually.

Many opponents of Issue 6 are concerned that this particular proposal creates a private monopoly for a single, out-of-state casino owner. Still others don’t believe a proposal of such specificity as to the location, nature, and tax treatment of casino gambling should be placed in the Ohio Constitution. In addition, there are many who are opposed to gambling in general. There is also some concern as to whether or not the passage of Issue 6 would make it easier for Indian-owned casinos to open in Ohio in the future.