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Struggling Ohio opens doors to casinos

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The Associated Press Updated 9:27 AM Wednesday, November 4, 2009

COLUMBUS — Ohio voters hard hit by the economic downturn have opened their state to casino gambling after an expensive campaign promising thousands of jobs.

With 91 percent of precincts reporting unofficial results, Issue 3 passed 53 percent to 47 percent.

It marked a significant victory for Penn National Gaming Inc. and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who spent nearly $35 million promoting four big-city casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo. An economic impact study commissioned by the campaign predicted nearly 40,000 temporary and permanent jobs and $4 billion in economic impact, though social costs were not considered.

State Rep. Lou Blessing, a Republican who fought the plan, said he plans to push a ballot issue next May that amends elements of the plan, collects more taxes from the casinos and puts the licenses up for bid.

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Yo Cheryl,
Please post your comments to your own area's board and not Spfld News-Sun. Folks round these parts don't take to kindly to folks round your parts telling them to 'Keep personal feelings aside' when this is a comment board and all comments are based, at least in part, on personal feelings. Some of the anti-gambling people's opinions stem from their religious beliefs and so to them, it's somewhat of a religious issue.
Geesh, stick to the Dayton Daily.

This is Springfield's page
2:49 PM, 11/7/2009

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1. On the gambling issue, you that don't like it have dramatized so much! Detroit was NOT destroyed by the casinos, thirty years ago there were many parts of the city that you were afraid to even DRIVE through!
2. As far as creationism vs. evolutionism: I believe in God that is a fact, but did you ever think that maybe God was SO smart that he CREATED evolution? Did you ever think that if Adam was 6'4", had brown hair and blue eyes when god created him that WE would not look like that now?

Mama
12:28 PM, 11/6/2009

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MIDDLETOWN VOTERS!CONGRATULATIONS on your V-I-C-T-O-R-Y-!! PASSING CASINO OPERATIONS IN OHIO. GREAT DECISION! To those who opposed; remember his is not a religous issue. people will make thier own decision about their entertainment. Keep personal feelings aside
Think about the number of job opportunities, minimum of 12,000-15,000 employeeS; Those of you who HAVE EXCELLENT skills; Human resources, bank tellers cahiers, customer services. Get Ready to make money! Good Luck Middletown. No Felons

Cheryl Kay campbell
4:03 AM, 11/6/2009

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See what I mean! Gambler just proved it, ha ha. No one has EVER said that you are bad or don't believe in God if you like to gamble. This would be totally hysTERical, except for the fact that you purposefully-misreading-the-Christian's-comments people, may be doing it maliciously as that's a way you can twist what they say and shine a much darker light on their comments than what is true.

I'm not a gambler or a Christian, but the HATE SPEECH was too unfounded to ignore. Just plain hate.

Tooo Funny!
9:00 PM, 11/5/2009

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I agree to disagree there does that make happy gambler.

Travis Aker
1:44 PM, 11/5/2009

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