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 National with environmental cleanup and road improvements, payable once Penn National annexes their casino site to Columbus. Council also agreed to pay $350,000 in legal fees the city had incurred defending the lawsuit.

The settlement agreement was then submitted to federal judge Gregory L. Frost, who granted approval last Friday.

Penn National now has until July 5 to find a buyer for its former casino site in the Arena District and settle its lawsuits with The Dispatch Printing Company. Once that occurs, Penn National will annex its current casino site to the city and the city will pay the $15 million it currently has set aside to help with environmental cleanup and roadwork. A possible hitch in the deal is already on the horizon: the attorney for The Columbus Dispatch Printing Company has stated his client would rather see annexation occur before dropping its lawsuit.

Meanwhile, Governor Kasich has reached a deal with Rock Ohio Caesars, developers of the casinos in Cincinnati and Cleveland. Financial terms were not disclosed, but it is believed Caesars has agreed to a multi-year “significant payout” on top of the $50 million licensing fees. In return, the language in the proposed state budget requiring casinos to pay the commercial activities tax on all wagers placed will be changed. Penn National had originally agreed to the same deal, but backed out at the last minute. Video lottery terminals, or VLTs, are thought to be one of the sticking points.