COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Voters in Ohio will decide in Tuesday's election whether to reverse their long-held opposition to expanded gambling.
The campaign season has been dominated by a proposed constitutional amendment authorizing casinos in the state's four largest cities — Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.
Casino operators and their supporters say the casinos will create almost 40,000 full-time and temporary jobs in a state where the unemployment rate is 10 percent. Critics say those job figures are exaggerated.
This is the fifth gambling issue Ohio voters have seen in 20 years. All others were roundly rejected.
Casinos are one of three ballot issues voters must decide.
Issue 1 would pay bonuses of up to $1,000 to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Issue 2 seeks to create a new state board to oversee livestock care.
