Issue 3 passed in Ohio on Tuesday. There will be 4 casinos built in Ohio, one of which will be in Cincinnati. I've heard that officials in Indiana estimate a $250,000,000 loss of revenue there. We in Cincinnati will not travel much if at all to the three Indiana casinos on the river starting in 2012 if we have one in our back yard.

With that said, will the loss of revenue spell the end of capital improvements at Lawrenceburg Speedway? I know the 'burg can't get much better than it is now, but will this foil any plans to upgrade the track more if the tax money starts to dwindle?

Discuss...

One thing for sure is that it will kill horse racing in ohio and a lot of people will lose there jobs! Also the farmers will lose! THEY SHOULD HAVE PUT THE SLOTS IN AT THE HORSE TRACKS TO KEEP HORSE RACING STRONG IN OHIO!

Horse racing is already dying a slow death in Ohio as it is. I think they tried to put slot machines at horse parks but that failed.

Gregg,

Everyone I have talked to about this (and myself included) think this is the worse place to put a casino. Broadway Commons is right on the edge of the of one of the worst parts of the city...that area has 1 or 2 shootings per week, rampant drug activity, and a lot of robberies. The Main Street bar and restaurant area which was very popular a few years ago has very few venues still open. I remember a few years ago of one band member who was shot and killed leaving the bar where he was playing. Why would you put a casino in that area when the Banks Project (on the Ohio River and between the Reds and Bengals Stadiums) was supposed to be the entertainment center of the city)? Everyone who I have spoken to about this and this includes some high roller gamblers that I know have all said thanks, but no thanks...they will continue to go the the Indiana casinos. Just my .02 cents

Tim Wolffrum aka Cowboy

Actually some of the tax revinue is to be used for the tracks and Im not sure but I don't think the slots at the tracks issue is dead yet either. Duke.
Remember. Indiana's gaming is much different than when it was first passed. Starting they had to cruise on water, No Alcohol on sunday ect. Now they are permanently docked, Expanded to race tracks, Drinking on Sunday ect.

Honestly. I don't think it will affect LBurg much at all unless it's something way over the top. The site of Cincinnatie's is Broadway Commons, Basically a dump parking lot right next to crack alley and the Hamilton County Justice center where all the inmates have a ball mooning people on the street. This will change with a few hotels and restraunts in the imediate vacinity but quite honestly, The mood outside the circle freeway is STAY OUT OF CINCY except for sports and conventions.

Im sure it will draw the local buisness from east and within 20 miles south and north but I certainly don't believe it's the END OF HOLLYWOOD CASINO nor the end of improvements to greater LBurg.

Chuck

Tim, I agree with all of these points you made. I also think it is a bad spot for it - the way things are now. I think they see this as a way to revitalize the neighborhood and it will be a tourist destination from there to the banks project. As I pass by the Banks and Broadway Commons daily on my way to work, it's hard for me to visualize what it will be like.

There is a Casino in downtown Detroit I've been to. It was built in a bad part of town also. But things have improved in that area since. Or has their bad part of town just been relocated?

So, you think our beloved 'burg will continue to grow via continuing tax revenues?

By the way, my wife spent her teen years in Milford in the 60's. She lived on Edgecombe Drive. Her house was right next to the water tower off route 28. Know where that is?

This was taken from article in this morning Cinti. Enquirer.
Four Hoosier casinos could lose nearly $300 million from the added Ohio competition, the state stands to lose as much as $103 million in taxes and the communities who will lose gambling visitors already are preparing for smaller budgets and belt-tightening.
A study by the state's Legislative Services Agency predicts that Indiana's three casinos in the southeast corner of the state - Grand Victoria, Belterra Casino near Markland and Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg - will lose 30 to 38 percent of their customers, resulting in a total revenue loss ranging from $202 million to $260 million per year.
Ohio's vote was a blow to Rising Sun and Lawrenceburg - two southeastern Indiana cities that have been rejuvenated and defined by their casinos.
In Lawrenceburg, the casino already made big changes preparing for Ohio competition.
Pennsylvania-based Penn National Gamingopened its new $335 million Hollywood Casino in June in an attempt to ward off future competitors. Penn hedged its bets in both states, however, and has the rights to develop the new casinos in Toledo and Columbus.
Lawrenceburg Mayor Bill Cunningham said Penn's investment should help protect his city's tax revenues from the casinos.
But he's still not taking any chances. Cunningham said the city no longer would seek "dream projects" and will begin saving more of the $20 million in gaming taxes it receives each year. "We're used to looking all over for things we could build, projects we could do," he said. "Now, we'll put the blinders on."

Gregg,

I think Lburg will continue to florish...As the mayor said in the article, I think they will put alot of the money away for a rainy day, but not be afraid to spend some money for upkeep. Yes, I do know where Edgecombe drive is...I'm about a mile east of there off Rt. 28. I'm actually in Miami Township, a half mile from Richard's Remax office and 2 miles from the Hoffman farm and garage.

Tim Wolffrum aka Cowboy

and you figure when the burg has their big races there is no one going to go to a dangerous part of down town when they have a gambling boat with hotels right across the street and I am sure they will do the shuttle bus thing again next year but I can wait to see what the schdule is for is for the burg in 2010 I heard it is suppose to be a good one

Whats funny is, Argosy wanted nothing to do with the speedway. At least it seemed that way. Penn National seems to be more inviting. Id love to see some weekend getaways offered including a race or something. Oh well, we'll see what happens.
Chuck