Casinos Good for the Economy

State lawmakers, the various governors and U.S. Sen. George Voinovich can debate the merits of casino gambling until the buildings around us crumble from neglect. The righteous arguments played out over decades have not served Ohioans as other state legislatures enacted responsible and successful gambling statutes.

That was then, then, then, and this is now. Ohio lawmakers once again take up the debate, and state Rep. Dennis Murray Jr. took a strong pro-gambling stand, and a strong stand for Sandusky and the Firelands region. We agree with Murray, and others, entirely, that the lakefront along Erie, Ottawa and Lorain counties is the perfect venue to introduce the changes responsible casino gambling regulations will bring.

Here’s what is known for sure: The casino gambling industry has been successfully implemented in states across the country and in all the states surrounding Ohio. It creates good jobs, good tourism. It attracts responsible adults who vacation with their families to communities, and it generates reliable and substantial tax revenue.

This issue will continue to return and be pushed by varying interests that may eventually succeed in passing a statewide referendum — and we have seen from the well-intentioned but flawed language of the recent no-smoking ban that doing so would create as many problems in implementation. Legislators have a responsibility to properly bring gambling to Ohio, and now is the time to do it.

Ohio has missed this boat for far too long because some leaders upend the responsible path with old, tired and disproved arguments of moral degradation if the casino gambling genie gets out of the bottle. Strickland, Voinovich and other leaders pushing back should back away now and let the legislative process create and implement responsible casino gambling legislation.

It’s way past time to let that genie out, and if the legislation is responsible, it will include the Sandusky area as a destination place for casino gambling. It’s a natural fit for Vacationland. The infrastructure is here already, and the complementary industries (the best amusement park in the universe) sit here on the lake waiting for the shot in the arm, the true stimulus that this industry, this state and Ohioans all deserve.