The effects of a casino in an urban area

TOLEDO, Ohio (WWLP) - We have visited destination casinos in nearby Connecticut, but now 22News is fully exploring the impacts of a casino in an urban area.

The Greater Toledo, Ohio area has almost the same population size as Greater Springfield, with approximately 650,000 residents. The region has an unemployment rate over 10%.

Ohio passed expanded gaming legislation in 2009 in an effort to increase tax revenue and create jobs. Toledo's casino was finished in May of this year. Since then, gambling has dropped 20%, but the City of Toledo received more than $1.2 million in tax revenues from payouts during 2012's third quarter, according to the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

22News reporter Shannon Halligan is in Toledo, and will examine how businesses there have been impacted by the casino. On 22News starting at 5 tonight, see her report as she talks to city officials about crime, traffic, and other concerns associated with a large casino. More importantly, hear from Toledo residents on how a Las Vegas-style casino has changed things there.