I was interested to see a story in the Inquirer about the brand new casino that's just across the river from Pittsburgh's triangle, in the shadow of Heinz Field. That's because I was in Pittsburgh for a couple of days last month and happened to drive past the new slots palace -- called, blandly, the Rivers Casino -- and frankly I was confused as to whether it was even open. I drove by the front entrance and no cars were was pulling in, no one was entering the front door, even though everything was lit up.
Turns out I wasn't seeing things:
At least a half-dozen shop and restaurant owners interviewed last month at Station Square - a dining and retail complex on the waterfront, about a mile from the Rivers - said the glitzy downtown casino had not brought them much new business.
"People book a room and find out there's a casino here, and not the other way around," said Ed Nassan, 52, a bell captain at the Sheraton Station Square. "It's had no impact. We expected busload after busload of people. It didn't happen."
On a recent Thursday night, a band played to an empty lounge area at Rivers, more than half the seats surrounding the Drum Bar were empty, and plenty of slot machines were available.
How ironic that so much of the opposition to the two casinos planned for Philadelphia has been focused on worries about traffic and congestion. I have a lot of concerns about government relying on casino gambling in general, but one thing I always thought about Philadelphia in particular is that the whole effort would be a giant waste of money...and civic energy. The Pittsburgh casino disaster bears that out.
Most gamblers in greater Pittsburgh, the article notes, would much rather go to a slots parlor 15 miles from downtown, because they're suburbanites who think -- fairly or not -- that the big city is dirty, congested, and crime-ridden. With casinos already open for business in Bensalem and Chester, might the same thing happen here? Gee, ya think?
I'm still hoping they kill the Philly slots experiment before the first wasteful shovel of dirt.
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
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Yep, Philly is dirty and crime-ridden, so we're going to go to Chester instead.— Mr. Smith
Will, I haven't been to Pittsburgh in a couple of years. Do they still roll up the sidewalks downtown at 6pm????— bird11- Comment removed.
LOL! Yeah, Philly's casinos will do just great - what's happening in Pittsburgh is completely irrelevant. Why, it's all a matter of population size: --snip-- CASINO INDUSTRY: Outlook: Unfavorable Fitch Ratings says 2010 gaming recovery not in the cards By HOWARD STUTZ LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL The impact the recession had on the casino industry in 2009 has not been completely accounted for, but by all measures the year will go down as the worst on record. Through October, gaming revenues have declined more than 12 percent both on the Strip and throughout Nevada. Monthly revenue figures statewide have fallen to 2003 levels. Get ready -- 2010 may not be any better according to one casino industry analyst. Fitch Ratings Service, which follows the high-yield bond markets, believes gaming revenues nationwide will continue to be pressured by the economy. Spending trends remain weak and unemployment will continue to reduce how consumers dole out their discretionary dollars. --snip-- You boyz are hilarious. 2009 WAS THE WORST ON RECORD for the casino industry. Building casinos is flat out stooooooopid no matter the state of the economy (virtually all long-term studies show them to be net loosers - increased crime, prostitution, personal bankruptcies, increased expenses to the city for traffic and policing, way less revenue than promised to local hotels/restaurants, etc.), but in the current economy, it is all that much more stooooopid. You boyz are hilarious.— Talking point sleuth- --snip-- Atlantic City casino revenue down 9.8 percent last month, 13.2 percent over course of year By The Associated Press January 11, 2010, 4:18PM ATLANTIC CITY -- Atlantic City's casinos posted their worst financial returns since 1997. The resorts' gambling business won $3.9 billion in 2009, down 13.2 percent from the previous year, according to data released today by the state Casino Control Commission. It was the worst showing for the resort's gambling business since 1997.— Talking point sleuth
- --snip-- Unlucky numbers: Gross casino revenue fell in 2009 MARY PEREZ • The Sun Herald • January 24, 2010 BILOXI — It's been a tough week for the Coast casino industry, hit with news that 2009 gross casino revenue fell to 2000 levels and construction cranes are coming down at the Margaritaville Casino site... --snip--— Talking point sleuth
- --snip-- Slumping economy hits Indian casino industry by SUDHIN THANAWALA Associated Press Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The economic downturn has slowed the growth of Indian gaming in America but the industry is faring better than traditional casinos, a report released today shows. Revenues climbed by 1.5 percent last year — the smallest increase since a federal law regulating the industry was passed in 1988, according to the Indian Gaming Industry Report by economist Alan Meister. That was down from a growth rate of 5 percent in 2007.... The $26.8 billion industry outperformed the commercial casino sector, where revenue dropped about 7 percent to $30 billion in 2008, according to Meister’s report. --snip-- Hey, look on the bright side, the Indian casinos aren't doing quite as badly as the commercial casinos.— Talking point sleuth
- TPS - congrats the casino industry is just one of many suffering under Obama. Glad your happy. Of course you realize this is costing Americans jobs in not just the casino industry but the construction industry. Why do you hate hard working Americans??? And the state portion of revenues is down - money that could help the poor and elderly. Why do you hate the poor and elderly??? Even the native Americans are suffering deceased revenue - yet you seem happy about it. Do you hate them just because they aren't white????— bird11
- Yeah, it's all Obama's fault. You wing nuts must have been home schooled.— JohnDoe
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
E-mail Will by clicking here.
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