Officials in the city of Lorain, Ohio modified a proposed casino bill to prevent a tribally managed bingo hall from flanking parts the city's prime lakefront property, should the planned Las Vegas style casino project fall through. The city wants to see Class III gaming, which covers games such as blackjack poker, roulette, craps and slot machines, and is reluctant to settle for less. This includes class II games, including bingo.
City officials decided to add the provision to exclude bingo when a consultant for the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma stated that the tribe could downgrade operations to Class II gaming, should the state shoot down the initial plans for Class III gaming.
The tribe signed a purchase option agreement for a total of $13.2 million for 17.73 acres of land at pellet terminal, as well as an additional 8.5 acres at Black River Landing. Should the state restrict the city of Lorain from establishing Class III casino sites, the agreement would automatically become annulled and the land would be transferred back to city hands.
|