It's election eve in Ohio and the last minute campaigning is wrapping up. Tri-State voters will go to the polls to settle some big issues... rail transit, city council members and school levies. Tuesday's election could change a lot of things for a lot of people, and not just in Ohio.
Local 12's Joe Webb looks at an issue being watched closely on both sides of the river.
If voters approve casinos is Ohio, the spot known forever as Broadway Commons will likely become a casino. It will be closer to people in Covington, Newport and Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, than it is to most Cincinnatians. Kentucky's efforts to expand gaming have floundered, as first Indiana, and now Ohio, have taken action. They'll be watching Tuesday's vote closely and wondering if they may have missed the boat. If voters turn Broadway Commons into a casino, many in Kentucky feel they will have lost the high ground... again.
Ky. Sen. Damon Thayer, R, Georgetown: "I think it does change things. Of course, we've watched it fail numerous times in Ohio and I'll be watching the vote tomorrow. I think if another surrounding state gets expanded gambling, I think that gives credence to the fact that we ought to let the people decide if they want it here."
Thayer is set to file a bill that would expand Kentucky gambling in the seven counties that currently have horse tracks, if voters amend the state constitution. That would leave the old Jillians site out of the mix for a casino. The earliest it could be on the ballot is November 2010.
Bon Elliston, President/CEO Turfway Park: "Basically, none of them would ever get off the ground because of a bad business model."
Elliston may not like Thayer's bill, but he's not so sure Kentucky has completely missed the boat. He's been forced to cut 25 percent of next year's racing dates because of thin purse money. Casinos in Lawrenceburg and Cincinnati would cut into business even further.
"A facility in downtown Cincinnati would definitely be a competitor to what we are able to do here as a racetrack and it would clearly be a competitor to what we would be able to do if the legislature passes a slots at the racetrack in the upcoming General Assembly."
They couldn't get that done last session. Thayer thinks the changing times and potential threat from Ohio, may swing some votes.
"I think I can put together a coalition of some Republicans and some Democrats to get the necessary votes to put it on the ballot."
To get a constitutional amendment on the ballot would require a super majority in the General Assembly....23 of 38 votes in the Senate... 60 of 100 in Kentucky's House. Then it would have to pass a vote of the people. It's a long shot in Kentucky. A lot of people will be watching Ohio's vote very closely.
Indiana is also closely watching the vote. A nonpartisan study there found the Ohio casinos could reduce traffic to the three Southeast Indiana riverboats by as much as 38 percent and cut their wagering revenue by as much as 260 million dollars.
