It will not cost one cent of taxpayer money. In fact, it will generate millions of dollars in new tax revenue. It will draw thousands of visitors every year to our area.

"It" is casino gambling.

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We already have the lottery and horse racing, and a majority of the Ohio Legislature is ready to approve slot machines in Ohio. Just 35 miles from the corner of Fifth and Vine sits a casino, in Indiana.

Are Ohio laws prohibiting casino gambling any more than a symbol of a time long past? Gambling is readily available to anyone even slightly interested.

Some have said, correctly, that casino gambling was already rejected by Ohio voters about eight years ago.

Much has changed. More important, people have seen the success of casino gambling with very few of the predicted problems. And they have seen millions of what-should-be Ohio tax dollars go to help pay the bills in Indiana.

And so, Ohio has a choice; Cincinnati has a choice. We can stand on a principle now almost impossible to articulate logically, or we can take advantage of an opportunity to breathe new life and energy into our city.

Recently, the Enquirer reported the results of a study that showed that for most areas in Ohio, including the southwest, visitor trips are significantly down. Every visitor who chooses not to come to our area because there is something more interesting to do elsewhere means more revenue lost to taxpayers, hotels and restaurants.

Simply stated, this is a loss of jobs.

Cincinnati stands poised for a comeback, but only if we are smart. New stadiums, world-class arts, new condo living in the center of our city, a new convention center and an economy that is historically strong means the table is set.

But even with that "good news," Ohio leads the nation in the so-called "brain drain," as many of our best and brightest move to areas of greater opportunity. Young people, in large numbers, are moving to communities that are perceived to be more exciting.

Casino gambling will not solve all of that. But acting in ways that bring more excitement and attractions to our area is an important part of what we need to do to revitalize our community. Casino gambling can help that.

Casino gambling will, at some point, come to Cincinnati. It comes to many cities only after just about everything else has left. We are not at that point, and we have moved in important ways to prevent the results seen in so many other cities. But we should add casino gambling, while it will be just one component of a city on the move.

Whether you live inside or outside the city, Cincinnati is your home, and supporting changes that will make us proud to call ourselves "Cincinnatians" is something we should join together to accomplish.

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Charlie Luken is the mayor of Cincinnati.