Believe it or not, I am voting no on expanded gambling in Ohio

The following is my opinion only and does not necessarily reflect that of Northfield Park, the Ohio racing scene or any other entity, even if it should. I know it’s hard to believe. I am against Issue 6. If you have ever spoken to me about my views regarding the issue of sin choice— smoking, drinking, gambling and soccer (kidding) – you know I am all in favor of allowing people to make a free choice. Provide the option and allow them to misbehave if they choose. If they choose not to partake, more power to them. Based on that concept, I should be pounding the pavement in favor of Issue 6 – a resort casino in Wilmington, Ohio.

So why am I against Issue 6? Not because it fails to help the racetracks I love so much. Not because the concept of a resort casino in Wilmington, Ohio is oxymoronic. (In the interest of full disclosure, I once dated a girl from Wilmington and have spent a lot of time there, so I know of which I speak). Not because I don’t believe the promoters. I am against Issue 6 because it is bad law. Pure and simple. Issue 6 wants to change the Ohio Constitution for the benefit of one business (not even one class of business, which I can live with) and I have a fundamental problem with that. That is not what the Constitution is for. Even the racetrack slots issue from a few years back (and I know we made a hash of it) allowed for competition, instead of creating a monopoly. That’s what Issue 6 does.

I don’t know if the Wilmington operators will pay 30%, 25% or 0% tax. I do not know if their revenue projections are correct, although my hunch is that they are overstated. $26 million to Cuyahoga County annually sounds like a lot of money. But, for perspective, the proposed downtown Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center is going to cost nearly $550 million. So it would take over 21 years to finance it if that’s what the funds were used for exclusively. The county deficit is currently $65 million. So a casino in Wilmington and a casino in Cuyahoga, or Northern Summit (or one that straddles both), might, combined, contribute enough to erase that deficit.

I do know that this is bad legislation and sets a dangerous precedent. What comes next if we pass this amendment. A constitutional amendment to allow one resort brothel in Celina? One resort smoker’s club in Shelby? Or perhaps just one resort opium den in Athens (not that you could tell it from a regular Ohio University weekend party).
Just my two cents and I welcome your comments. And don’t even ask me about Issue 5.