FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Ohio Christian Alliance today joins with other family organizations and elected officials to express our opposition to the expansion of gambling in Ohio.  Executive Director Chris Long stated,

“State Issue 3 is a fraud being perpetrated on the people of Ohio reminiscent of the time when Ohio voters were told that a state lottery would solve Ohio’s school funding challenges. The backers of Issue 3 are advertising the false claim that college tuition of Ohio’s students will some how miraculously be provided only if we allow seven race tracks and the municipality of Cleveland to operate gambling slot machines.

The truth is that State Issue 3 provides no legal guarantee on when these scholarships will be paid and how much they will be worth per student. The backers of Issue 3 are counting on the lure of monies being provided for college tuition to pass their initiative to allow for class three gaming in Ohio, but Ohioans are beginning to see through the masquerade. That is why both US Senators George Voinovich and Mike Dewine along with State Auditor Betty Montgomery, both gubernatorial candidates, and the Ohio State University’s board of trustees now oppose Issue 3.

One clear example of why casino gambling is not the answer for economic development and job creation is Detroit, Michigan, whose residents were sold on the idea of casino gambling as a way to generate revenue and revitalize the downtown area.  The city of Detroit recently faced huge fiscal shortfalls and had to face the unpleasant task of laying off hundreds of city employees. Recent reports also indicated that bankruptcy rates were climbing at an alarming rate in southern Michigan.”

Ohioans have twice in fifteen years voted down gambling initiatives by a margin of two to one. The Ohio Christian Alliance will continue to oppose any attempts to expand gambling in Ohio. 

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For more information, please contact Chris Long at 330-887-1922