Sponsors of a proposed plan for four casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo, all cities in the US state of Ohio, have announced a ballot initiative to be included on the November 3, 2009, state-wide ballot.
The proposal would seek to amend Ohio’s Constitution, which currently prohibits casino gaming. The plan is backed by the newly-formed Ohio Jobs and Growth Committee, led by such figures as Quicken Loans CEO and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, former US Congressman and former Mayor of Cincinnati Charlie Luken and Penn National Gaming.
Other investors and supporters include the group MyOhioNow, which supported the 2008 casino initiative. That would have allowed for a single casino site in south-west Ohio. The 2008 initiative failed in the November, 2008, election, gaining just 37.6 per cent of the vote.
The ballot proposal was submitted to the Ohio Attorney General and is currently awaiting approval before the signatures may begin to be collected from across the state. Petitions containing valid signatures of 402,275 registered Ohio voters must be filed with the Secretary of State by July 1, 2009, in order for the proposal to qualify for the November, 2009, election ballot.
"We are confident that Ohio voters will recognise that this is far and away the best and fairest proposal for casino gaming they have been asked to approve," stated Charlie Luken.
"We have worked hard to create a proposal that benefits all Ohioans through their local governments and schools and creates jobs and significant economic development at a time when Ohio’s economy is most in need of a boost."
