Who are the backers, and what do they promise?
The backers are Blue Water LLC, made up of majority owner Lakes Entertainment, a casino management company owned by Lyle Berman of Minnesota, and MyOhioNow.Com, a Beachwood firm owned by local residents Rick Lertzman and Brad Pressman. Proponents say some casino proceeds would go to all 88 Ohio counties. Projecting that the casino would gross $800 million a year from gambling, they say 30 percent — about $240 million — would be distributed. Clinton County would receive 10 percent, one percent would go to the state to set up a casino-regulation commission and another 1 percent would finance treatment programs for problem gamblers. The remainder — about $211 million — would be divided among the state’s 88 counties. The promoters say the seven counties in Northeast Ohio would share about $50 million a year, with Cuyahoga County getting $26 million a year. The casino also would pay all local, state and federal taxes. Proponents envision the resort casino hiring about 5,000 people with
