Ohio Riverboat Casino Gambling Initiative (1996)

Ohio Riverboat Casino Gambling Initiative

Election date

November 5, 1996

Topic
Gambling
Status

Defeated

Type
Initiated constitutional amendment | Origin

Citizens

* * *

Ohio Riverboat Casino Gambling Initiative was on the ballot as an initiated constitutional amendment in Ohio on November 5, 1996. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported authorizing riverboat casino gambling in Ohio.

A "no" vote opposed authorizing riverboat casino gambling in Ohio.

## Contents

* 1 Election results
* 2 Path to the ballot
* 3 External links
* 4 Footnotes

## Election results[edit]

Ohio Riverboat Casino Gambling Initiative

Result | Votes | Percentage
Yes | 1,639,955 | 38.15%

| 2,659,075 | 61.85%

Results are officially certified.
Source

## Text of measure

### Ballot title

The ballot title for Riverboat Casino Gambling Initiative was as follows:

To amend Section 6 of Article XV of the Constitution of the State of Ohio.

In order to authorize the establishment of river boat casino gambling in Ohio, this amendment would:

1. Authorize the establishment of permanently moored river boat casino gaming facilities to conduct games and schemes of chance without wagering limits, excluding bingo and dog or horse races, on rivers in the following locations: two in the city of Cincinnati, one (1) in Hamilton County outside of Cincinnati, three (3) in the city of Cleveland, one (1) in the city of Lorain, and one (1) in Mahoning County.
2. River boat casino gaming facilities may be established in designated locations only if this amendment is approved at this election by a majority of electors who vote on the amendment in a county in which the facility would be located.
3. Establish a gaming commission to license and regulate the operation of river boat casino gaming facilities and to license all casino operators and employees, manufacturers and vendors of gaming devices, and other persons.
4. Levy a twenty percent (20%) monthly gaming fee on gross revenues of games or schemes of chance conducted at river boat casino gaming facilities after deduction of total prizes paid to patrons. The fee proceeds shall be distributed as follows: eighty percent (80%) to primary and secondary public schools for educational purposes, ten percent (10%) to the municipality or township in which the facility is located, and ten percent (10%) to the county in which the facility is located.
5. Prohibit the levy of any additional taxes or fees relating solely to gaming except an initial application fee to operate a gaming facility.
6. Prohibit any person under the age of twenty-one (21) from participating in authorized gaming as a patron or employee.

If adopted, this amendment will be effective in thirty (30) days.

Shall the proposed amendment be adopted?

| ”

|
|

## Path to the ballot[edit]

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in Ohio

An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In Ohio, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

Ohio also requires initiative sponsors to submit 1,000 signatures with the initial petition application. Ohio has a signature distribution requirement, which requires that signatures be gathered from at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties. Petitioners must gather signatures equal to a minimum of half the total required percentage of the gubernatorial vote in each of the 44 counties. Petitions are allowed to circulate for an indefinite period of time. Signatures are due 125 days prior to the general election that proponents want the initiative on.

## See also

1996 Measures

* 1996 Measures
* Gambling on the ballot
* 1996 legislative sessions

Ohio

* Ohio ballot measures
* Ohio ballot measure laws

News and analysis

* Ballot measure lawsuits
* Ballot measure readability
* Ballot measure polls

## External links[edit]

* Cleveland State University Law Library, "Ohio Constitution - Law and History: Table of Proposed Amendments," June 2, 2023

## Footnotes[edit]

v • e

1996 ballot measures

• Alabama 1996 ballot measures • Alaska 1996 ballot measures • Arizona 1996 ballot measures • Arkansas 1996 ballot measures • California 1996 ballot propositions • Colorado 1996 ballot measures • Connecticut 1996 ballot measures • Florida 1996 ballot measures • Georgia 1996 ballot measures • Hawaii 1996 ballot measures • Idaho 1996 ballot measures • Indiana 1996 ballot measures • Iowa 1996 ballot measures • Kentucky 1996 ballot measures • Louisiana 1996 ballot measures • Maine 1996 ballot measures • Maryland 1996 ballot measures • Massachusetts 1996 ballot measures • Michigan 1996 ballot measures • Minnesota 1996 ballot measures • Missouri 1996 ballot measures • Montana 1996 ballot measures • Nebraska 1996 ballot measures • Nevada 1996 ballot measures • New Jersey 1996 ballot measures • New Mexico 1996 ballot measures • New York 1996 ballot measures • North Carolina 1996 ballot measures • North Dakota 1996 ballot measures • Ohio 1996 ballot measures • Oklahoma 1996 ballot measures • Oregon 1996 ballot measures • Rhode Island 1996 ballot measures • South Carolina 1996 ballot measures • South Dakota 1996 ballot measures • Utah 1996 ballot measures • Virginia 1996 ballot measures • Washington 1996 ballot measures • West Virginia 1996 ballot measures • Wisconsin 1996 ballot measures • Wyoming 1996 ballot measures •

v • e

State of Ohio
Columbus (capital)

|

Elections |

What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2024 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

Government |

Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy