CLEVELAND - Backers and opponents
of casinos agree that a summer-long series of charity
Texas Holdem poker tournaments in the Flats nightclub
district amounts to a test drive for legalizing casino
gambling in Ohio.
"I think casino gambling is coming," city Councilman Joe
Cimperman, a casino backer who represents the Flats
district, said yesterday. Otherwise, he said, "We're
going to continue to see billions of dollars leave
Ohio."
Jeff
Jacobs, whose Nautica entertainment complex pioneered
the redevelopment of the Flats 20 years ago, organized
the four-day poker tournaments in an air-conditioned
tent with an eye toward increasing public acceptance of
casinos.
Ohio
voters have rejected proposals to legalize casino
gambling twice since 1990.
"We're making a statement," Mr. Jacobs said. Support has
increased for casinos in Ohio as people recognize the
loss of gambling and entertainment dollars to
neighboring states, he said.
Not
so, said the United Methodist Church, whose social
principals call gambling "a menace to society" and said
it would oppose any casino proposal.
As
for the
Texas
Holdem
poker
tournament, "We would discourage any of our
congregations from doing any fund-raising based on any
kind of game of chance," said Tom Slack, spokesman for
the UMC's West Ohio conference representing 1,200
congregations.
Three competing interests hope Ohio voters will approve
casino-type gambling, including Cleveland's proposal
backed by Mayor Jane Campbell. The others are backed by
Indian tribes hoping to build gambling resorts and a
coalition including horse tracks and developers.
The
poker tournaments will be held on a Thursday-Sunday
schedule through Sept. 4, with nonprofit groups
providing volunteer workers and pocketing the proceeds
from seat fees up to $15 hourly. Players keep their
table winnings.
Beth
Rosenblum, executive director of the Cleveland Baseball
Federation, which sponsors sports programs for 8,000
youngsters, said her group hopes to raise $50,000 to
$100,000 from its July 14-17 tournament.
Ms.
Rosenblum said the group welcomed the additional
fund-raising opportunity, but was neutral on whether
casinos should be legalized.
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