Ohioans will have 4 cities to choose from in the near future if they feel like going to a casino. Buckeye State voters have ended a 20 year string of losses to expand gambling in the state in a hard fought battle. Proponents say that by passing Issue 3 more than 34,000 jobs will be created in Ohio. Issue 3 has gained 53% of the vote to 47% with about 90% vote counted.

The passage of the gambling issue was a long time coming for people who wanted to see casinos in the state for two decades. Each time that a ballot measure would be brought to the electorate, it would fail miserably. What changed? The latest casino plan puts 4 gambling locations in the biggest cities which likely gained support in those urban areas. Another factor is that the economy is so poor in the Buckeye State that many felt that we needed this catalyst to get us out of the doldrums that we have been in. Lastly, each state we border currently has expanded gambling and people were fed up with those dollars leaving the state.

So when will the casinos open? What we know now is that Dan Gilbert, who will own the casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati, has said he will break ground early next year.