Governor Kasich and Penn National agreed to a deal similar to that with Rock Ohio. Penn National will also pay the state an additional $110 million. In return, the state will assess the commercial activity tax on total wagers minus payouts. This agreement also opens the door for Penn National ... Read More

The Columbus City Council and the Franklin County Commissioners unanimously approved a settlement agreement with Penn National Gaming. The deal was struck two weeks ago as both parties were preparing to go to trial over water and sewer rights. The city agreed to set aside $15 million to help Penn ... Read More

The trial of Penn National’s claim against Columbus and Franklin County over water and sewer rights was to have begun last Monday. Both parties requested a delay. On Tuesday, an out-of-court settlement was reached. On the surface, things appear to be looking up for the Columbus casino. A closer inspection of ... Read More

Rock Ohio Gaming has stopped construction on its casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati until the issue of taxes and fees has been resolved. That could still be weeks away as the Senate is currently reviewing the budget amendment passed by the House last week. While also concerned about this issue, even ... Read More

The Ohio House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the budget requiring casinos to pay the commercial activity tax on all bets wagered, not gross revenue minus winnings paid out. Penn National is strongly opposed and reiterated its threat to file legal action if this amendment is passed. The ... Read More

Penn National officially broke ground on its Columbus casino last week, but when it will actually open is still up in the air somewhat. Days after the groundbreaking, Franklin County officials rejected Penn National’s application for a certificate of zoning appropriateness, a certificate that is needed to begin construction. Planning Administrator ... Read More

The Ohio Department of Administrative Services has announced that two firms will be retained to assist Governor Kasich and the Ohio Casino Control Commission in plotting Ohio’s future on various gaming issues such as casinos, VLTs and horse racing. Spectrum Gaming Group of Linwood, New Jersey, was hired to primarily ... Read More

The opening of the Cleveland and Cincinnati casinos could be delayed up to four months, pushing back the completion date to early 2013. According to President Matt Cullen of developer Rock Gaming, this potential delay is all a result of Kasich’s indecision on casino fees and taxes. Kasich thinks the ... Read More

Unrelated to the ongoing battle between Penn National and the city of Columbus, the Kasich administration dealt a financial blow to the casino developers. An amendment to the state transportation budget prohibits the use of state assistance to casinos or any other gambling venue, such as racetracks. This will prevent ... Read More