By Eric Berman
11/3/2009
Six Indiana counties are voting Tuesday on referenda. But a vote which could affect the state more than any of them is taking place next door in Ohio.
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Ohio is voting on whether to allow casinos in Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo and Cleveland. An Indiana study calculates a yes vote could cost Indiana $83-to-104 million in casino taxes, by siphoning a third or more of the business from the riverboats in Lawrenceburg, Rising Sun and Markland.
The study projects one in seven gamblers at Anderson's Hoosier Park would go to Toledo instead.
Casino Association of Indiana executive director Mike Smith notes Lawrenceburg's Hollywood Casino just finished a major expansion and renovation, which could insulate it from the new competition. He's pushing for state tax breaks for additional protection.
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