SEARCH NEWS:

 

Ohio Investors Bet on Casinos

OHIO – As reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer: "Despite the strong opposition of Ohio's top politicians and the potential for a legal fight, some investors are willing to take a flier on at least two of four Indian-run casinos proposed for the state.

"The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma wants to build the casinos. The tribe, which has started the process of filing a land claim for 145 square miles, is cutting casino-hosting deals with four towns - Monroe, Botkins, Lordstown and Lorain. It hopes to make Ohio the 29th state with Indian-chartered casinos.

"The Eastern Shawnee's move comes in the same year that mayors in Cleveland and Cincinnati have called for legalization of casino gambling, casinos in Southeast Indiana are expanding, and momentum appears to be building in Kentucky for casino gaming to save the ailing horse-racing industry.

"Ohio's highest officeholders - Gov. Bob Taft , Attorney General Jim Petro, Secretary of State Ken Blackwell and Auditor Betty Montgomery - oppose casino gambling, as do many state legislators.

"…A Delaware County company called National Capital I is serving as the Shawnee's' vehicle for obtaining approvals and raising money.

"National Capital has raised $10,000 to $50,000 from each of about a dozen private investors.

"…The Eastern Shawnee tribe expects to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on each of its four casinos planned for Ohio…"

< Gaming News