SEARCH NEWS:

 

Ohio gubernatorial candidate fine with gambling expansion

TOLEDO, Ohio -- As reported by The Columbus Dispatch: "Republican John Kasich said last night that, if elected governor, he would not rule out an expansion of gambling in Ohio.

"In an interview before addressing more than 300 at the Lucas County Republican Party Lincoln Day dinner, Kasich also said that the state's dire budget situation would make it difficult to begin phasing out the state income tax in his first term. He has espoused a goal of eliminating the tax in virtually every campaign speech.

"Kasich said that, as governor, he would examine an expansion of legalized gambling from the viewpoint of whether it makes sense for the state.

"'I'm not ideologically opposed to gambling,' the former Westerville congressman said. 'I haven't made up my mind on it, but I'm not going to say we're not going to do it and pound my fist on the table. We'll have to see, and that doesn't mean we are going to do it. We'll have to take a really hard look at it.'

"Kasich said he is not sure what state-sanctioned gambling 'ought to look like, although I have a sense that the state ought to own it and lease it if it's going to work...'

< Gaming News