Aqueduct casino is emptying the pockets of New Yorkers, not tourists
More gambling in city means more city gamblers
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Monday, August 20, 2012
Mary Altaffer/AP
The millions being gambled away at Aqueduct shows why more casinos would be dangerous.
Led by Gov. Cuomo, New York is moving toward consideration of a constitutional amendment to legalize casino gambling. Supporters often say New Yorkers are traveling to other states to bet and leaving their losings there.
Undoubtedly, this is true, but bringing them home would be only part of the story.
Of greater significance, new data indicate that casinos in population centers — New York City, for a prime example — would draw substantial money from large numbers of players who haven’t been inclined to hike to gaming spots in Connecticut or Atlantic City.
From 2007 to 2011, the money gambled in Northeastern states stayed essentially constant even as new casinos opened, according to an analysis by gambling consultant Charles Vickery.
Pretty much every dollar that New York gained — thanks to upstate Indian-run casinos and state-sponsored video lottery racinos at horse tracks — was a dollar lost by neighboring states.
Undoubtedly, this is true, but bringing them home would be only part of the story.
Of greater significance, new data indicate that casinos in population centers — New York City, for a prime example — would draw substantial money from large numbers of players who haven’t been inclined to hike to gaming spots in Connecticut or Atlantic City.
From 2007 to 2011, the money gambled in Northeastern states stayed essentially constant even as new casinos opened, according to an analysis by gambling consultant Charles Vickery.
Pretty much every dollar that New York gained — thanks to upstate Indian-run casinos and state-sponsored video lottery racinos at horse tracks — was a dollar lost by neighboring states.
The issue isn't solely the origin of Gambling Dollars. It's ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT that never happens as Niagara proved.
Then came the opening of Resorts World at Aqueduct Racet rack, the first casino-style gambling venue in the city. Its 2,500 video slots soon raked in $14 million a week — a spike that helped pushed the region’s gambling revenue beyond its previous high, in 2008.
Suddenly, quick, easy availability by subway, bus or car opened the way for nongambling New Yorkers to open their wallets and kiss their money goodbye.
So let’s be honest about what happens if the Legislature approves the casino amendment for a second time and voters ratify it in November 2013. New Yorkers would stay in New York to gamble and the number of gambling New Yorkers would rise sharply. And that’s not a good thing.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/aqueduct-casino-emptying-pockets-new-yorkers-tourists-article-1.1139028#ixzz245ql7fG8
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment