Here are some stories from around the Web on Issue 3 passing:
The Plain Dealer
Cleveland to get its casino; Voters OK gambling, approve Issue 3
By Reginald Fields
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Tuesday's election transformed Ohio from an anti-gambling state to one that will welcome four major casinos, including a glitzy new one in the Flats, just across from Quicken Loans Arena.
Issue 3, the constitutional amendment for casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo, coasted to victory Tuesday night with 53 percent of the vote, thanks in large part to voters in Northeast and Southwest Ohio.
With Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert pledging that construction of the $600 million Cleveland casino would begin no later than the second half of next year, city supporters are looking forward to thousands of new jobs and more tourism from this new form of entertainment.
"We're going to deliver something very special," said Gilbert, who declared victory shortly before midnight at a party in the Cavs' practice court on the fourth floor of the Q, a couple of hours after the Cavs' win over Washington.
He vowed not to build a walled-in, isolated compound, but something integrated with downtown Cleveland.
The promise of jobs and tourism for a city reeling from a devastating economy sold Mayor Frank Jackson, City Council and business leaders who got behind the casino plan.
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The Vindicator
Ohioans OK casino gambling, but Mahoning Valley voters reject state Issue 3
By David Skolnick
Backers of the casino initiative aren’t surprised by the results in the Valley, a spokesman says.
YOUNGSTOWN — Las Vegas-style casinos are finally coming to Ohio, despite the rejection of the statewide issue in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.
Though disappointed with the statewide results, Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras, a strong and vocal opponent of the issue, said he’s proud of the unity shown by voters in the Mahoning Valley against the issue.
“I’m happy the Valley residents spoke loud and clear and stood arm-in-arm and voted as a region against this,” said Betras, who opposed the issue because it didn’t include a casino for this area.
“The people of Ohio spoke and Issue 3, despite its many flaws, was passed,” he added.
With 92 percent of the statewide vote counted, the gambling issue was winning 53.08 percent to 46.92 percent, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.
The measure received 44.39 percent support in Mahoning County, 49.44 percent support in Trumbull, and 38.17 percent in Columbiana.
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The Dispatch
Ohio OKs casinos
By James Nash
Battered by a grim economy, job-hungry Ohioans approved casinos for Columbus and three other cities yesterday.
Voters broke a streak of four failed gambling measures in Ohio by approving Issue3 with about 53 percent voting yes.
The measure benefited from a strong appeal by unions and urban politicians to get voters in the four casino cities - Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo - to the polls. The measure carried by large majorities in the Cleveland and Cincinnati areas, won with a smaller majority in Toledo, and lost in Franklin County.
"We're going to deliver something very special, and we're going to work very hard with a lot of people," said Dan Gilbert, owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and owner-to-be of two of the casinos. "This is not going to be a savior by any means, but it's another brick in the wall."
Gilbert will have the rights to casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati. His partner on Issue 3, Pennsylvania-based Penn National Gaming Inc., will develop casinos in Toledo and Columbus' Arena District. Construction could begin by late 2010, and the new facilities would open in 2012.
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