Ohio’s four casino resorts and seven racinos contributed billion to the Buckeye state’s economy in 2014 according to a study released last week by the American Gaming Association, a lobbying group based in Washington D.C.
The gaming industry also supported 17,600 jobs and generated over $917 million in taxes. There are 9,524 jobs directly linked to casinos and racinos with $1.7 billion directly contributed by gaming. The study gets its numbers from a 2014 study by Oxford Economics that took into account gaming revenues, spending at operations inside the casino such as food and beverage venues and spending off-site by visitors who made a trip to a casino.
The release of the study at the Hollywood Casino in Columbus is part of a public relations campaign known as “Gaming Votes,” which seeks to improve the image of the industry leading up to next year’s presidential campaign. The campaign is targeting several battleground states such as Ohio. Lawmakers and state officials attended the event from both parties, including Rep. Joyce Beatty and Rep. Steve Stivers.
Geoff Freeman, president of the association, said, “Gaming in no longer a niche, novel industry but an economic driver in Ohio that is providing a path to the middle class in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and beyond,” adding, “We encourage presidential candidates to get to know the gaming industry as they seek votes from thousands of Ohioans whose jobs depend on casinos.”
Alan Silver, an Ohio University professor, told the Akron Beacon Journal, “It’s definitely been an economic driver. Gaming like any other industry, being taxed at this enormous high rate, is an added benefit for the state.”
During the roundtable discussion at “Gaming Votes” Chris Haydocy, president of Weston Vision declared, “The fact is in 2009, the Weston District was named ‘the most vacant district’ in the United States. Families and businesses were fleeing the area. No one had any plan on how to stop this exodus. Hollywood’s investment in this district not only stopped the exodus, but has been the major reason for the comeback.”
The AGA launched “Gaming Votes,” earlier this year. It plans to start its educational efforts first with casino employees themselves, so that they know which candidates support the industry that they get their paychecks from.
