by bintangkecil on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 | Business, Entertainment, News | No Comments

With 99% of precincts reporting unofficial results, a referendum to legalize casinos in Ohio passed with 53% of the vote Tuesday.

More than two-thirds of absentee voters said yes to Issue 3, the Ohio constitutional amendment that would allow one casino each in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo. The county’s absentee voting totals on the gambling proposal were 114,495 yes, and 52,557 no.

An economic impact study predicted nearly 40,000 temporary and permanent jobs and $4 billion in economic impact.

Steuben County, Indiana leaders are pushing their own casino referendum. Leaders met with a gaming study committee in Indianapolis late October. They want to expand on current lake tourism.

If slot machines pop up across the border, Angola Mayor Richard Hickman (D) says a possible casino in Steuben County would still be successful. But, he adds, there is still a long fight ahead before the area gets one.

“We still have a lot of a lot of things to overcome,” said Hickman. “Number one, the legislature has to approve a casino moving. Number two, (the legislature has to) approve Steuben County having a referendum. And, of course, the referendum passing. So there’s a lot of hurdles yet for this community to overcome to get a casino here.”

The gaming committee is working on a report in which it will lay out its recommendations on gaming in Indiana. That report will be turned over to the state legislature when it’s back in session in January.

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