Gambling interests, and local governments and school districts seeking additional tax revenues, are anxious for the opening of the state’s first two casinos, in Cleveland and Toledo. Wisely, regulators have slowed things down, delaying plans for the Cleveland casino to open March 26 and the Toledo casino to open April 2. New opening dates likely will be in May or June.
Members of the Casino Control Commission, chaired by Jo Ann Davidson, decided this week that thorough and complete licensing investigations must take place, taking precedence over the influx of jobs and money. Consultants advised the commission that additional time is needed to complete the necessary background checks.
Davidson and other commission members rightly emphasized that they will not cut corners when it comes to licensing the casinos. The commission members noted that the tentative opening dates were set by Penn National Gaming for Toledo and by Rock Ohio Caesars for Cleveland.
While some delays are expected in the first round of licensing, Penn National and Rock Ohio deserve blame for much of the slowdown. Rock Ohio initially balked at background checks for employees of casino vendors. Fortress Investment Group, the holding company for Penn National, still refuses to submit an application for background checks on its board of directors.
Casino operators, who wrote the constitutional amendment on gambling approved by voters, enjoy a monopoly in Ohio. The Casino Control Commission is providing the necessary counterweight by insisting on transparency and accountability.
