Pro-gambling interests have invested heavily on a simple bet: that there is money to be made in Ohio.
Construction costs alone for four casinos will approach $1.5 billion. Millions more were spent convincing Ohioans that casino gambling would give the state a much-needed economic jolt — a campaign debt that as of January was still being paid off.
As the state’s first-ever casino is set to open in Cleveland on Monday, a review by the Dayton Daily News shows that as of January, subsidiaries of Penn National Gaming Inc. and Rock Gaming were still making contributions to the group that led the 2009 campaign to amend the Ohio constitution and allow casinos in Ohio.
Penn National and Rock each will develop two of the Ohio casinos, which will open in stages through the spring of 2013.
“I don’t know the casino business, but I do know a lot of money flows through it.” state Sen. Bill Beagle, R-Tipp City, said. “I don’t know if they would have invested all that money into a campaign if they felt the risks outweighed the benefits.”
The opening of the $350 million Horseshoe Casino Cleveland will be followed by the $320 million Hollywood Casino Toledo, the $400 million Hollywood Casino Columbus and the $400 million Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati.
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