CINCINNATI, Ohio – As reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer: "Cincinnati's civic leaders are angry that they've been cut out of a statewide casino proposal, and they are floating their
own plan, the latest twist in the rocky, divisive effort to bring Las Vegas-style gambling to Ohio.
"Last week, Ohio's horse track owners appeared to have unified behind one November initiative, which would bring slots parlors to Ohio's seven tracks and two sites in downtown Cleveland.
"The Learn and Earn campaign says it would raise $900 million yearly for college tuition and economic development.
"To achieve unity, the horse tracks agreed to drop Cincinnati as a slots site. That appeased Penn National Gaming Inc., which owns a Toledo racetrack and an Indiana riverboat that would have to compete with a Cincinnati parlor.
"But angry Cincinnati leaders have responded with a ballot proposal that puts the Queen City back in - with a downtown site known as Broadway Commons - and increases the cut for college tuition to 32 percent of slots revenue, compared to Learn and Earn's 30 percent. It would also mean millions less in economic development for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.
"Cincinnati City Council is expected to support a resolution Wednesday calling for a downtown casino and an active campaign against any initiatives that don't include Cincinnati…."