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Cincinnati and Columbus are on opposite sides when it comes to a ballot initiative that would permit gambling in Ohio.
Elected officials and business leaders in Cincinnati said Monday they support a ballot initiative to permit gambling in Ohio, a sharp contrast to the Columbus Chamber and Columbus Partnership's opposition of Issue 3.
If voters approve the amendment, it would allow for as many as 3,500 slot machines to be installed at each of Ohio's seven racetracks, including Scioto Downs and Beulah Park in Central Ohio, and two casino-type gaming parlors in Cleveland.
A portion of the gambling revenue would be used to fund college tuition grants.
The Greater Cincinnati Economic Development Fund, comprising civic and business leaders, came out in support of the proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution, saying it would provide more funds for college scholarships than the state legislature would be able to spend.
"Any money that this generates will put us ahead of the game compared to where we will be without it," State Rep. Bill Seitz, R- Cincinnati.
The initiative is also backed by the Ohio Learn and Earn Committee, whose proponents say 30 percent of the gross revenue from gambling revenue would go toward college scholarships. Learn and Earn is forecasting the slot machines would bring in $2.84 billion a year, generating $852.7 million a year for the tuition grants, which could be used at any Ohio college or university.
Those opposing the initiative, including the Columbus Partnership, a Central Ohio business coalition of top executives from some of the region's largest companies, and the Columbus Chamber, say amending the state constitution to allow gambling at nine specific sites would ordain those businesses as winners in the economy and is not good public policy.
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