Casino Gambling a Good Idea for Ohio?

For what it's worth, I believe that casinos and gambling would have been a good idea for Ohio to create jobs and raise some revenue, but the sad fact is that the time to make this move would have been about 20 years ago. At that time, fewer states and cities were home to gambling casinos and Ohio could have been a leader. From what I remember, groups for various religious and moral reasons fought hard to keep the gaming industry out of Ohio for fear that that type of development would lead to organized crime, prostitution, problems with addictions, and other moral misgivings. While true, we already had all those things at the time, and still do to this day, but without any of the benefits and tax dollars this industry would have brought along with it.

Now, after the horse has left the proverbial barn, we see some local politicians advocating the idea of gaming casinos in Ohio. It is my opinion that we're at least a few days late and many dollars short after more than half the country allows casino gambling on some scale with our nearest neighbors in Michigan and Indiana well established in this industry. So, time for some new ideas folks, not the recycled thoughts that may have worked 20 years ago.

In NW Ohio, we have various legislators who have made the re-designation of the "pit bull" and new "Joe Wurzelbacher protection" legislation their priorities. Elsewhere in Ohio, we have a state legislator who is interested in a bill to allow our General Assembly members the privilege to marry folks who are so inclined to enter into matrimony. All worthwhile endeavors to be sure!

I believe, on the other hand, that after we get through with all these important priorities, we may want to focus on jobs, economic development, education funding, and a tax policy which works for all Ohioans. We're not so patiently waiting for these insignificant "pet projects" to be taken care of so we can get back to the work of important policy debate and hopefully solutions. The clock is ticking and the natives are getting restless. This space intends to keep the heat on these folks who would represent us.