Plans to build four new casinos in Ohio's largest cities have been backed by voters, making it the 13th state to legalise casinos.
The questions of whether to amend the state’s constitution to include details of the casinos’ locations and the distribution of tax revenues passed 53 per cent to 47 per cent.
Robert Griffin, president and chief executive officer of MTR Gaming Group, which operates racetracks and other gaming facilities, said the decision to approve casinos would significantly increase competition in the company’s regional markets starting from 2013.
“We are considering several different alternatives in order to proactively prepare for the new competition,” he remarked. “Although this may appear negative, we believe that it may result in slots at tracks, as the Governor has proposed, with better economic terms than were originally discussed. To that end we are working diligently to have this initiative reintroduced in the state.”
