The investment bank Moelis & Company will sit down with Rock Ohio Caesars, the developer of the Cincinnati and Cleveland casinos, and Penn National, the developer of casinos in Columbus and Toledo. Moelis representatives met with the Governor yesterday. Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said the Governor did not tell Moelis in advance what the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting should be. He said the Governor does not oppose gambling, and wants the casinos to be successful, but a whole host of issues need a second look.
NICHOLS: You only get one chance to do this right in Ohio, in terms of having casinos open the door, and we want to make sure it’s done the right way.
Earlier this month the Ohio House kept language in the budget proposal that casino developers say would cost them tens of millions in additional taxes. The Governor has said taxpayers got a raw deal in the constitutional amendment voters approved in 2009. Rock Gaming spokeswoman Jennifer Kulczycki said it was a difficult decision to halt construction, but until there is more clarity it doesn’t make good business sense to continue. The Governor says the process is moving quickly now, and is confident it will come to a resolution very soon.
