When the Gaming Lobby in Ohio finally got its way, and Ohio voters finally approved casino gambling in the state after several tries, it was hailed as a way to help the state overcome budgeting shortfalls, especially those caused by our never-addressed issues with school funding.
What we've got is proving to be something different. With numbers now released, it is clear that Ohio's counties in many cases may not even be making enough to cover the carrying costs of gambling to begin with.
Cuyahoga County stands to make the most, at $554,424. Vinton County will see the least, a paltry $11,668. Of course, Cuyahoga County has to actually pay for police and fire coverage to the casino, as well as the social costs of what gambling brings.
So far, with Ohio's counties raking in $7.7 million to the casino operators' $42 million, it appears that, unsurprisingly, the house has won, once again.
