Opponents say casino issue could affect Eastern Shawnee

LIMA - A ballot issue that would create a single destination casino resort in Ohio could have consequences for an American Indian tribe trying to bring gaming to the state.

The belief of whether those consequences are intended matches up with those who oppose the casino plan or are in favor of it.

A group trying to bring casino-style gambling to Ohio has proposed a single $600 million casino and entertainment resort in Wilmington, in southwest Ohio. The resort would create 5,000 jobs and revenue for each county in the state, according to My Ohio Now.

Ohio voters have rejected casino ballot issues three times.

The ballot language could help the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma with two sites at which it is trying to establish casinos, opponents say. In April, the tribe filed with the U.S. Interior Department to have the federal government take land into trust for casinos at two sites in Ohio, casino opponents say.

Those opponents also say that, if the ballot issue passes and if the Eastern Shawnee establish Indian gaming in Ohio, a loophole in the ballot language would mean the end of the promised revenue for counties.

Casino proponents say the two issues are separate.

"Our issue has no bearing whatsoever on Native American casinos," said Brad Pressman, co-chair of the My Own Now Committee. "It in no way enhances the chances of Native American casinos in Ohio."

The Eastern Shawnee attempted for months to negotiate a land deal with the city of Lima administration, but City Council walked the city away from the possibility. The tribe now has land contracts in Botkins and Monroe and filed an application in April with the Interior Department to establish federal lands there to operate casinos.

The tribe is following federal law to establish gaming in Ohio, spokesman Terry Casey said, and it always has been open about that. It has no ties to other efforts and is not depending on other efforts, Casey said.

"The only way this helps us directly is that, if this passes, it shows that attitudes are shifting and seeing that (casino gambling) is all around us and Ohio isn't benefiting," Casey said.

Federal law prohibits the taxation of tribal casinos and also dictates that tribal casinos can offer no level of gambling than what's already allowed in the state.

If Issue 6 passes, according to the Ohio Roundtable, a conservative public policy organization and longtime opponent of gambling in the state, it will allow Las Vegas-style gaming in Ohio, helping the Eastern Shawnee.

The issues surrounding classes of gaming are cloudier than that, Casey said. Many Class II, bingo-based games look similar to higher classes of games and Ohio already allows gaming close to Las Vegas-style with charitable gambling and the newly installed Keno.

If the tribe is able to locate in Ohio, it would not be taxed, and according to Issue 6's language, which would be added to the Ohio Constitution, My Ohio Now's casino taxation rate matches any succeeding competing casinos.

"This loophole's going to kick in and everything that's built into that revenue is gone. Once the tribal casino opens, the law is clear that this tax rate would become zero," said Melanie Elsey, co-chair of the Vote No Casino Committee and legislative director of the Ohio Roundtable. "There's nothing in the law that creates an exception for tribal casinos."

Pressman said his group stands behind its pledge of county revenue and believes his group will have a different outcome than previous failed attempts, first because he believes attitudes about gaming in Ohio have changed.

"These are Ohio jobs that can't be outsourced. Job creation should be the No. 1 priority in Ohio," Pressman said. "With the 2006 issue, we believe voters didn't vote against gambling, but a bad plan. We are transparent. We use the words casino and gambling. We tell you where the money's going."

The Vote No group plans an equally aggressive campaign and believes that, once the public hears its side, the measure will be defeated.

"Not only what a casino will do to communities and sucking money out of the community, but also the concept of creating a monopoly in the state constitution for one private enterprise," Elsey said. "Once they hear about the empty promises that have been made, we believe this will be defeated."