DescentBB

I don't really know how I feel about having one of these "destination casinos" in the suburb I live in. In our province of Canada (B.C.) we started out 30 years or so ago with allowing lotteries, then charity casinos came along. These were run by a casino company but had to have a sponsoring charity for every night they were open and the charity had to supply workers, as a reward your organization got a percentage of the take to spend in carefully controlled ways. Then the government started handing out the money without needing the workers and allowed slot machines in some locations and now a large (relitavely speaking) Vegas style casino whith hotel and theater attached has been built and is open for buisness.
Is this tax on the stupid a good thing? I saw a photo of the line up for opening day and it was like looking inside a box of Q-tips. So many white haired heads. And I know from working the old style charity casinos that most of the gamblers are not a bunch of high rollers or dangerous criminals just people looking for entertainment. But there have been convictions for loan sharking and other unsavory activities even in the old style casinos.
Does any one live in a town with a large casino in it? How has it worked out? At least this one is in an industrial area and won't annoy the neighbours much.

Ford Prefect wrote:Is this tax on the stupid a good thing?

Casinos have to pay a lot of taxes, as well as usually give out lots of money to community projects to cut back on taxes and get their name out there. One wonders if the money that was not taxed at casinos would be put to as good of a use had their original owners kept it.

Good point Tetrad. In the case of casinos in our Province a percentage of the take is still distributed to charities through a government bureau. I suppose it is an easy way to tax what must be disposable income.

My mom has always referred to the lottery as a "stupidity tax". At least casinos are a more entertaining version of it.

I don't think it's any worse than having something like the lottery -- in fact, I think it's a lot better to have a casino, because it can be legitimately entertaining to come in with a few extra bucks and spend an afternoon at the lowest-end tables they have (a friend of mine used to take a roll of quarters up to the casinos in Blackhawk, and sit at the 25 cent blackjack tables drinking free beer. She'd usually come out ahead once you calculate the beer costs...)

Best thing about casinos is they deeply discount everything else to try to get you there to gamble and get your money that way. If you don't gamble, a big meal, drinks, a show and even an overnight stay can be a very reasonably priced mini holiday.

About twelve years ago, when gambling was illegal here, A "Gambling Boat" was allowed to dock in town. This vessel was allowed to take people out past the "three mile limit" to gamble. The boat had all the "bells and whistles". In short the city officials said. "This can't be so bad!".

Much of all the debate was discussed in the local paper and on television. How taxes would benefit the local area, The state would have a "gaming commission" that would CAREFULLY regulate everything, etc. There are eight major casinos in this city now and more being built. The casinos are represented by companies that have casinos in Las Vegas. They all have hostelries associated with them. They can accomodate MANY people. The largest, newest and most imposing of them is "The Beau Rivage". There is no doubt that it equals or surpasses casinos in Las Vegas. Elizabeth Taylor was here for the opening ceremonies. This casino is on land. The Dockside thing just mysteriously went away.

Briefly, before the authorization for the casinos there were those who stood up and said what was going to happen if casinos were allowed. Flame throwers get ready . . . We're not going there. Now, the money that was supposed to come back to "glorify" the area has not. Prices at the casinos were so low that the local people that voted them in griped that the casinos were cutting into their profits. The casinos raised their prices. Rents in apartments and housing that were reasonable before the casinos are now over the moon. There is so much traffic now it is difficult to go anywhere. Areas immediately away from the casinos that were in good repair and had small businesses in them are now shambles and the businesses are gone. Atlantic City had this problem . . . or did. No one has told me that Atlantic Citys' problems are fixed.

There have been many people who came here with "something" and left with nothing. There has been a lot of grief. This is the unspoken undercurrent. The result of "playing" the casinos.

The casinos are here for one purpose. Plainly, to get players' money . . . . . and if the player is just a little careless . . . they do get the players' money.

The hotel accomodations are terrific. The food is excellent. Top entertainment does appear in the casinos.

The machines and tables??? User beware. Gamblers do get "comps" for "points" earned . . . They can get free meals and accomodations.

Other casinos are "The Isle of Capri" "Boomtown" "Casino Magic" "The Grand Casino", "Treasure bay", "The President" and, "blush", one I have forgotten the name of. Two new ones are under construction.

P.A.