Sometimes the best new casino is no casino at all
Generally, show me a city that's hot for casinos and I'll show you a loser city.
Sometimes the best new casino is no casino at all
In 1996, I'd been the Daily News' political writer for only a month or two when the paper sent (yes, sent!) me to Chicago to cover the Democratic National Convention, the most un-newsworthy "news event" of the 20th Century. One of the obligatory things for journalists back in the '90s was to follow Ed Rendell around and that I did -- and I saw first-hand his bizarre obsession. The then-Philly mayor was determined to bring a House of Blues -- or maybe a Planet Hollywood or Hard Rock Cafe, but especially a House of Blues -- to the City of Brotherly Love. At a party packed with very important people, the House of Blues guy, whoever that was, was the one who Rendell spent the night sucking up to.
House of Blues never did come to Philly. Hard Rock Cafe did -- and we all know what a history-altering event that was (#Sarcasm). The truth is that mayors do this -- they waste an inordinate amount of time chasing the shiny object like a Disneyquest, whatever that was. instead of the hard work of improving schools that could prepare thousands of kids for jobs that are better than selling video game tokens.
Nothiing is more wasteful in this regard than the quest for casinos. They do some good things -- like creating short-term construction jobs -- and some bad things, like funding government on the backs of gambling addicts. But generally, show me a city that's hot for casinos and I'll show you a loser city.
Urban affairts guru Richard Florida had an excellent piece this weekend on why casimos are losing bets:
Here's more from our backyard:
The typical customer of an urban casino is neither a tourist nor a deep-pocketed whale, but a local of modest means. Dave Jonas, president of Philadelphia’s Parx Casino, told the Pennsylvania Gaming Congress in 2010 that his typical customer spends $25 or $30 dollars a visit — and many of them return three, four and five times a week.
And yet despite of this, state and some local officials in Philly are plowing ahead with their schemes for a second casino, when one slots palace in town and two more on our immediate borders seem much, much more than sufficient. Warren Buffett is right -- the whole thing is revolting. Maybe Philadelphia will come to its senses before it actually catches this shiny object.
FINALLY - some common sense!— mortgage_wizard- Agreed.
Obviously, the only people likely going to win out $$ wise developing a casino are the developers. They borrow others money; leverage it into making their own profit; then turn the project over and say: SAYONARA suckers!! Gamble on!!
Certainly Philadelphians don't want or need this happening at Broad and Callowhill, or on the Anderson site/Waterfront, or anywhere else where another common sense development proposal makes dollars and cents, for the city.
Focus on building the city. Not quick profit at others, who least can afford it, life long expense.— 24sDad - Agreed, but.... The proposal at the sports complex makes a lot of sense.— intheweeds
- The sports center really? 5 minutes from the Chester City site and 5 minutes from Sugar House. How about 12th & Market? That way we can get every last time from convention goers and tourist at the liberty bell. And it will be veruy close to city hall so that the overpaid/bloated city employees can donate also
- I agree completely with the sentiment in this article. Who needs an urban affairs guru when all you need to do is look at Atlantic City to see the long-term economic effects of a casino. Or maybe you could look at Ventnor, where whole sections went downhill thanks to the transient casino help moving in and out with little regard for the neighbors or the neighborhood.— Wednesday
- Meanwhile sitting in our Senate in the Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee since Dec. 5, 2011 is House-Bill 2009. This legislation makes the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board post on it’s website a description of all requests for access to records under the act of February 14, 2008 known as the Right-to-Know Law. Now the reason this legislation has not come out of committee is because of two amendments that are attached to it. One amendment would make all table game taxes go to the Pa. property tax relief fund and the other one would make our casinos mail monthly statements to their patrons who are enrolled in casino Reward Card programs.
These monthly casino statements would enable gamblers and their family members to spot a loved one's gambling problem before it gets out of hand. Who knows how many Pennsylvanians and their families would be in a better domestic and financial situation when being made aware, month after month, of their wins and mostly LOSSES in black and white.
You can help get this legislation passed by contacting your Pa. Senator and telling them you support HB-2009 and the amendments on it.— Bill-Kearney - I totally agree! Thank you for this article. Please keep covering this subject.— NotADoneDeal
- one casino is enough.— high water
- For my money, I'm sticking with a weird social/architectural atrocity peppered with hand me down second empire cat litteresque gems. Cool stuff. Are we not lucky?— Tkat
- Let Trump build it. He'll bankrupt it in five years and then the Wise Guys can take over.— The Monk
I finally agree with Bunch on something. Pugs like Brady and Evans are trying to shove this down our throats by linking it to funding for public schools. How despicable. The future of our kids should never be hostage to something as whimsical as a freaking casino. I'd much prefer a high tech business park with knowldge based jobs. Hell, we have some of the finest universities if the world and these kids graduate and go elsewhere. Give them a reason to stay in our Faire Countrie Towne.— The Monk- Wynn Casino in Fishtown riverfront make the most sense. Fishtown and Its riverfront is so underdeveloped. The casino will jump start developments along the area. It is located at I-95 exit and commerial area. I am a Fishtown resident and I support Wynn casino in Fishtown!!— Sam1234
- No politician in the city has the guts to oppose the idea of a new casino, specially the crazy illegal one promoted by Rep. Brady.— EIK
- If the liberal democrats had not interferred with both of the original casinos (SugarHouse and Fax Woods) who were approved. The casinos are the only businesses that appear to be making money in and around the Philadelphia area are casinos. So what's your big business idea Bunch? Exactly, nothing. Let the casino open and get the democrats like Don Bob Brady and the Nut-Man out of the way and keep their mitts off the casino and let the business operate.— Speak-truth-2-power
- Well, I know actually marching and going before the committees does nothing to stop this when some Daddy Warbucks is flashing his cash all around.
I still have my CasiNO sign. Not that I'll ever use it again.— Hamlet
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