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What do adult clubs and bingo halls have in common?

    Updated: 10/20/2007 12:19:15 AM  Posted: 10/19/2007 11:33:08 PM
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CLEVELAND -- Many clubs, bars, and entertainment businesses complain Ohio's new laws are hurting them.

St. Vladimir Ukranian Church claims bingo receipts are down ten-percent since the smoking ban took effect.

"People will try to do something else or, because they have to have that cigarette, won't come in here or they'll come in later and spend less and leave early," says Hans Harasinchuk, who runs the Bingo games every Friday.

New restrictions for exotic dancers took effect this week, to the displeasure of club owners.

"It's simply another law that's passed in the State of Ohio that hurts business and it hurts the population," says Gold Horse owner Al Spencer. "It can very well hurt tourism, it could hurt, it certainly may hurt the convention business."

"We don't have gambling, we don't have a lot of things that bring people maybe to Cleveland," says Gold Horse bartender Misty Grace, who worries her tips will go down if less people go to the club.

Gaming parlors -- whose skill-based games like Tic Tac Fruit have been ruled legal by some courts -- are fighting proposed legislation limited cash and prize payouts to ten dollars. Some worry it will hurt other places with skill-based games like Chuck E. Cheese and Dave & Busters.

Dave & Buster's issued this statement: "This new legislation will not affect Dave & Buster?s... We support the legislation?s intent to crack down on illegal gambling machines."

The smoking ban had the health of Ohioans at its heart but some worry about the state's health, since some businesses are dying.

"Unfortunately, the harder we work, there's less return," says Harasinchuk.

It's too early to tell what effect a law like the dancing restrictions will have. Adult club owners are trying to get an issue on the ballot this November to overturn the new law.

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