More details have emerged about the new gaming proposal backed by Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The proposal would authorize casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo. Projections indicate that the casinos would raise $1.8 billion in revenue per year. The gaming proponents said that the casinos would raise around $600 million in taxes and create 20,000 jobs in Ohio’s recession stricken economy. The taxes would be distributed to state, county and local governments, as well as public schools and Ohio horse racing tracks. The horse racing industry would not otherwise benefit from the proposal.

Governor Strickland has said that the new proposal is too similar to the proposals that failed on Ohio’s ballots in the years past. Representatives from the governor’s office indicate that expanding gaming is not the right approach to improve Ohio’s faltering economy.