Casino Gambling In Zanesville?

How would you like casino gambling in Zanesville?  It could happen.  An Ohio Senate panel this week added a provision into a bill on new casino regulations.  The move would expand the ability for counties in Ohio to open charity poker rooms.  Muskingum County Commissioner Steve Strauss tells Whiz News that he is "1000 percent against it".  Strauss says “it would allow too much opportunity for corruption”.  The Senate Oversight and Reform Committee added the amendment to the casino bill this week.  It could reach the Senate floor next week.  The move would allow all 88 counties in the state to have charity poker rooms with proceeds, after expenses, going to various local charities.  Commissioner Strauss says “he has nothing against charities, but he does not like the idea of a poker room in Muskingum County”.  Governor John Kasich is opposed to the measure.  State Senator Bill Coley of Middletown, who is chairman of the Senate Government Oversight Committee, says Cleveland has operated a successful card room for years and this just allows all other counties to do the same thing. Senate President Tom Niehaus says that charities can book the facility for poker games and use the proceeds for their cause.  Whiz News contacted State Senator Troy Balderson of Zanesville for comment, but have not yet heard back.