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Some are not concerned while others are worried.
Story by Gil McClanahan
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NITRO -- The Ohio business of Tri-State Racetrack and Casino comes from Southeast Ohio where voters rejected the casino measure. Dan Adkins of Hartman and Tyner, the owners of Tri-State says it's easier their Ohio customers to get to Kanawha County than it is to Ohio Casinos.
"From Tri-State's perspective, I don't expect any impact. I think the competition from those Ohio casinos on us will be minimal," says Adkins.
"I think it will have significant impact," says Cindy Bagwell, General Manager of the Comfort Inn-Cross Lanes. This year alone she says they've sold 900 rooms to Ohio travelers who came to the area just to visit Tri-State. Now the Ohio Casino Vote outcome has them worried.
"You have travelers who come here now from Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo who come just to go to the track. I feel those travelers will start staying in Ohio to travel," says Bagwell.
While Bagwell said she doesn't know what the impact of the Ohio Casino Vote will be, Adkins says the state's two Northern Panhandle casinos should be worried
"If you look at the statewide impact, it's going to be pretty strong. It's going to have a major impact on Mountaineer and Wheeling, and those are two of the biggest providers of revenue to the state from a gaming industry standpoint," says Adkins.
Adkins says West Virginia must now see how they will compete with Ohio Casinos. Should Ohio expand their gaming industry even more, then Adkins says he would be worried because that could have an impact in Tri-State.
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