City of Monroe and Tribe Approve Gaming Agreement Reading
January 31, 2005

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the City of Monroe is taking the necessary steps to ensure it receives its appropriate share of the proceeds if and when a proposed casino is built at Interstate 75 and SR 63. Monroe City council approved the first reading of an agreement between the City and the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. The City would gain over $800,000 in taxes and millions more in revenue under the proposed agreement with the tribe. The City would be paid between 1.5 percent and 2 percent of the net revenues from the casino for 10 years. The tribe continues to lobby state officials for approval of Indian gaming in Ohio.

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Cleveland Mayor Calls for Casino Gambling
January 31, 2005

As recently reported in The Plain Dealer, Cleveland's mayor, Jane Campbell, has joined other Ohio mayors in calling for casino gambling. According to the mayor's political strategist, Gerald Austin, "We need to look at this because we'll be forced to tax people more or look at other sources of revenue."It's not a political play. It's a budget decision." The mayor's position is not without controversy, however. Bishop Anthony Pilla of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese questions casinos. "Will casino gambling enhance the quality of life and the fabric of our community or will it be detrimental to community life?" Early sentiments are that Campbell will not be able to persuade Ohio's clergy to accept casinos. According to The Plain Dealer, Campbell has yet to reach out to Ohio's clergy including Bishop Pilla, Rev. Marvin McMickle and other leaders in Cleveland.

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Columbus Possible Site for Casino
January 31, 2005  

According to the Columbus Dispatch, several ideas for reviving downtown Columbus are floating around, one of which is casino gambling. With gambling legalized in Canada, and states surrounding Ohio having casinos, proponents of casino gambling have targeted at least five locations in the Buckeye State for casinos. These locations include slot machines at horse tracks. The Shawnee Indians have approached Columbus regarding putting a casino in its borders. Terry Casey, a Columbus consultant who represents an Oklahoma Eastern Shawnee tribe, commented that the tribe looked at putting a casino in City Center mall, even before Lazarus went out of business, as well as other locations around downtown Columbus. However, Columbus' key leaders have not been welcoming towards establishing a casino in the city. According to Casey, the city's power structure has given the idea a "thumbs down". Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman has expressed his skepticism towards gambling becoming part of the city. Although Columbus may not be interested in casino gambling, there are other Ohio cities who have expressed an interest, and the Shawnee's are pursuing building casino resorts in Butler and Shelby counties. Casey has announced a web site promoting the Shawnee's endeavor at www.shawneeohioresorts.com.

Senator Spada (R-North Royalton) has recently proposed that Ohioans be given a choice regarding casinos on the ballot in the next November election. The legislator sees casinos as a source of much needed revenue in major Ohio cities, as many Ohioans are traveling to surrounding states to gamble. Neil Clark, a Columbus lobbyist, does not think that casinos will be approved by the legislature. If the legislature did approve casinos without amending the Constitution, Clark thinks that Governor Taft would veto the legislation. In 1990 and 1996 the gambling issue was put on the ballot, and Clark commented that both times Ohioans disapproved.

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Kentucky Casino Proponents Hopeful for 2006
January 31, 2005

The Cincinnati Enquirer recently reported that casino gambling may be on the ballot in Kentucky in 2006. Jerry Caroll, a Northern Kentucky developer and casino gambling advocate, expects that the legislature will not address the gambling issue in 2005, but will vote on legalizing casino gambling in 2006. Many lawmakers think that the issue will be proposed as a constitutional amendment. The legislature has to vote in favor of the amendment first, and then the issue of legalizing casino gambling would go before the state's voters. Governor Ernie Fletcher has commented that he will not stand in the way of gambling legislation introduced in the legislature.

Kentucky's race tracks are looking at the possibility of incorporating casino gambling at their facilities. Proponents say that casino gambling is needed to provide incentives for people to go to race tracks, and in addition they will then spend more money while at the race track. Turfway Park and Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. are lobbying Kentucky legislators to allow casinos at race tracks. This concept in West Virginia, and other states, is known as racinos.

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Kentucky Governor Targeting Illegal Video Gambling Machines
January 31, 2005

The Cincinnati Enquirer recently reported that Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher says he'll take action against the insurgence of illegal video gambling machines in Kentucky's truck stops, convenience stores and fast-food restaurants. The Courier-Journal recently studied the issue and found that thousands of electronic devices, which resemble slot machines, are operating illegally across the state. This study reported that along Interstate 75, a reporter found 137 machines between nineteen different truck stops, convenient stores and fast food restaurants. Governor Fletcher has stated that he was not aware of the extent of the problem, but is now studying the law to see what steps should be taken to stop this illegal activity. Members of Fletcher's administration told the Courier-Journal that legislative action may be needed.

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Police Trying to Curb Illegal Texas Hold 'em Tournaments
January 31, 2005  

The Columbus Dispatch recently reported that local law enforcement officials are cracking down on illegal Texas Hold 'em tournaments. The poker game is extremely popular, partly due to the professional poker television shows of the Travel Channel's World Poker Tour and ESPN's World Series of Poker. Columbus Police Sergeant Stan Latta commented that the games which are held at someone's home is not what the police are looking to eliminate. Latta said it is legal to use money in the game as long as the gambling is not occurring at a bar where liquor is sold, and the person who is running the game does not take a cut of the pot of money. Last August a poker game at Wedgies, an East side bar, was raided by Columbus police. The police charged the dealers, game operators and players.

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Charitable Gambling Functions Undergo Stricter Regulations in Cleveland
January 18, 2005

According to the Plain Dealer, the city of Cleveland is cracking down on charitable gambling, which may be sending the organizers to its suburbs. However, some surrounding communities already have casino-night laws on the books, and others may soon follow. These new local laws are expected to aid police with the tools to better track where gambling money goes. Currently, Ohio law requires that an established charity be the recipient of proceeds from gambling events, such as Texas Hold 'Em poker tournaments. According to the Assistant Deputy Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety's Investigative Unit, Scott Pohlman, the department is finding that charities are not receiving all the funds raised at these events.

This fall, Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro clarified Ohio's gaming laws, stating that the same restrictions apply to Texas Hold 'Em tournaments as other charitable gambling. Ohio law prohibits the operation of games of chance unless they are conducted to raise money for a charity. The law is meant to ensure that only charities benefit from these charitable events, however some people have made a business out of running these various charitable gambling events across the state. The latest trend is to use professional dealers for casino nights. State law requires dealers to be volunteers for the charity, along with the other workers. Some organizations train their volunteers to deal, while others use professional dealers who are technically volunteers while they are working at the charity event. If professional dealers are used, the hands are faster and this increases the charity's income by dealing more hands. Several communities are looking to pass regulations to more closely monitor the workers at these events.

Recently, Cleveland City Council adopted one of the strictest charitable gaming laws in the area. The law requires that charities provide the names and social security numbers of all volunteers who are working at a charitable gaming event. In addition, all casino nights are to shut down by midnight during the week and 1 a.m. on Saturdays.

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