Gamble on casinos pays off in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Casino gambling in Ohio came up aces, as voters approved gaming houses for Columbus and three other Ohio cities.

Unofficial results indicated the measure garnered about 53 percent of the vote, breaking a streak of four gambling measures that failed to draw voter support, the Columbus Dispatch reported Wednesday.

The gaming measure benefited from strong support from unions and civic leaders who worked to get out the vote in the four casino cities -- Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.

"We're going to deliver something very special, and we're going to work very hard with a lot of people," said Dan Gilbert, the Cleveland Cavaliers owner who has rights to casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati. "This is not going to be a savior by any means, but it's another brick in the wall."

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, who opposed casino gambling, was non-committal about whether a legal or constitutional challenge would be mounted.

"While I am personally disappointed, I understand why Ohioans, who are struggling under the weight of this global recession, were willing to give this proposal a chance," Strickland said in a statement.