CLEVELAND -- A new survey shows 60 percent of northeast Ohioans believe a casino would be good for Cleveland.

NewsChannel5's Tony Gaskins reported that many Cleveland leaders are very pleased by the results of this new survey and hope Columbus legislators are listening as well.

Cleveland is hoping to add a casino to its skyline and Mayor Jane Campbell and her administration believe a poll showing strong support for one is a good first step.

But there is still a mountain to climb. Opponents have vowed to wage an intense counter attack and want voters who oppose a casino to speak out.

"Supposedly all the money is supposed to go back to the schools, but by the time you pay for this, pay for that, it doesn't get anywhere near what they promise," said casino opponent Kim Lower.

But supporters of casino gambling believe the poll puts them on a roll to take the issue to voters statewide.

They'd prefer to gamble here in Cleveland knowing their dollars might help the local economy.

"I agree with it, I think it would help a lot," said supporter Ed Norosky. "We've been putting this question off for too long."

Supporter Dominic Butcher said, "I think it's a good idea. It'll bring more business to Cleveland. The city's kind of falling around here so I think gambling, it'll be OK."

Mayor spokesman David Fitz said the administration and other casino supporters will soon be conducting their own polls to see what voters statewide think.

"We're surrounded right now … there's casinos everywhere," said Fitz. "There's buses fleeing the city, spending money elsewhere, and jobs being created elsewhere, and it's time Clevelanders have the right to decide for themselves whether they want a casino."

Opponents say the new survey doesn't hold much weight because it should have been conducted statewide instead of just locally.