No on more gambling.....

Mercury News editorial: No on more gambling and Measure E

Mercury News Editorial

Posted: 10/09/2014

 

There was only one thing we needed to know about Measure E to conclude that it's a bad idea for Milpitas and the South Bay.

It would more than double the number of gaming tables at Bay 101 from the current limit of 49 in San Jose to 115 if the club moves a few miles to Milpitas. With increased capacity would come a corresponding increase in domestic violence, loan sharking, gambling addiction and other crimes and family crises routinely associated with serious gambling.

The effects won't be limited to Milpitas, just as they are not now limited to San Jose. But Milpitas voters can stop the expansion by voting no on Measure E.

A few years ago, Bay 101 tried an end run around the San Jose City Council and asked voters to approve more tables. The club ran a high-roller campaign, but voters saw through it and said no way. We hope Milpitas voters will be as perceptive.

If the number of tables were roughly the same, we'd be neutral on Measure E, despite the shift of around $8 million in tax revenue a year from San Jose, which badly needs the money. But more than doubling the number of tables means trouble for South Bay families: For a dad struggling with a gambling addiction, a casino that's close to home and open 24-7 is far more of a threat than the nearest Indian casino in San Pablo, more than an hour away.

Even if Measure E passes, a state law still would have to be changed to allow Bay 101 to cross the border without San Jose's permission. But voters' welcoming it to Milpitas would take expansion a step closer. Vote no on Measure E.

 

 

 

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_26696469/mercury-news-editorial-no-more-gambling-and-measure

 

 

Being against casinos is not being against people

Being against casinos is not being against people

jsunshower | Mon, Jul 14, 2014 7:22 AM EST

Being against casinos is not being against people in the service industry, or unions, nor job creation.

Wherever casinos are built, the way they operate sucks tourism that was widely spread among local businesses to feed the mega-corporation. Very different from building other entertainment venues that attract people who will also shop at other neighborhood businesses.

“But what about jobs, the drum-beat casino proponents tout as their best argument? Casino workers’ unions across the country are embroiled in labor fights with casino owners, fighting for fair pay and even to keep what little they receive in tips. Last year, hundreds of employees quit just days after the opening of Cleveland’s new Horseshoe Casino, outraged at their excessive hours and low pay.” from article by Steve Holt in Universal Hub 3/06/2013 Here’s the Cleveland article :http://www.clevescene.com/…/lots-of-people-already-quitting

More info on negative effects for everyone in a community: http://imshttp.rapv.com/documents/CasinoResearch-NAR.pdf

Casinos and labor: the rest of the story

somervilletom | Sun, Jul 13, 2014

 

Buried in the middle of the A-section of today’s Sunday Globe is a clear demonstration of the rest of the story about casino gambling and labor. The glimpse into the future proponents would have us create is equally compelling.


First, the facts (emphasis mine):

First, the facts (emphasis mine):

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Atlantic City’s crumbling casino market disintegrated even further Saturday as the owners of the Trump Plaza casino said they expect to shut down in mid-September.
Trump Entertainment Resorts said no final decision has been made on the Boardwalk casino. But the company said it expects the casino to close its doors Sept. 16.
Notices warning employees of the expected closing will go out to the casino’s 1,000-plus employees Monday.
If Trump Plaza closes, Atlantic City could lose a third of its casinos and a quarter of its casino workforce in less than nine months. The Atlantic Club closed in January, the Showboat is closing next month, and Revel might do likewise if a buyer can’t be found in bankruptcy court.

Some of us have argued here that casinos = jobs, and a significant number of Massachusetts residents seem receptive. I therefore offer the following dose of hard-nosed current reality, this time from Atlantic City today (emphasis mine):

The head of Atlantic City’s main casino workers’ union demanded state lawmakers help head off what he called a “pending catastrophe” that will affect the state’s tourism industry and tax collections.
…
The company did not indicate what might become of the building after it is closed.
Bob McDevitt, president of Local 54 of the Unite-HERE union, said 7,000 casino workers — or about one in four — have been warned their jobs could disappear within 60 days.
“While this is a personal tragedy for every family involved, it is also a crisis for the state,” he said. “We expect Trenton to react with more than just sympathetic sound bites; we demand action equal to the magnitude of this pending catastrophe.“

In short:
1. The casino industry is collapsing, especially in Atlantic City
2. When the collapse happens, it happens at catastrophic speed
3. The true equation for labor in Atlantic City today is “Casinos = Unemployed” — to the tune of SEVEN THOUSAND union workers.
4. The very first step of organized labor as the predicted collapse unfolds is to demand “help” from the state.

In my view, this is the real story of casino gambling today. Massachusetts should just say “YES” to repeal casino gambling in our state.

 

New York State: Bailing Out Racinos!

If you're GAMBLING at 4 AM, how is that 'HARMLESS ENTERTAINMENT'?

This is why REPEAL THE CASINO DEAL is the only reasonable solution!

Bill would allow racinos to stay open longer hours

By Julio Olivencia
Staff reporter

July 03, 2014

A bill aimed at helping the state's nine racetrack casinos would allow them to stay open until 6 a.m. and increase incentives they can offer customers.

The bill (A.10075/S.07833) increases the amount of free play credits the casinos can offer and changes the time casinos must close from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m.

"There are weekend nights when we have a few hundred people on the floor when we close," said Taryn Duffy, spokeswoman for Empire City Casino in Yonkers, explaining the need for the change.

The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder, D-Rockaway, is an attempt to help the so-called racinos improve declining profits.

According to Vernon Downs minority owner Gary Greenberg, the nine rasinos made $2.5 million less the week ending on June 28 than it did the same week last year.

"June 2014 is the seventh consecutive month net win has slumped," Greenberg said in an email. "June saw net win for nine racinos decline a severe $11,446,409. This is the largest decrease in any month in VLT history in New York."

The casinos are looking forward to the potential free play increase.

The amount of tax-free free play credits a casino can offer their customers is currently capped at 10 percent of their annual income. The new legislation would increase this to 15 percent.

"Free play is the only marketing tool that we have," Duffy said. She likened free play to a coupon the casinos can give their customers.

The change in closing time, on the other hand, is not as widely anticipated.

Smaller casinos most likely won't extend their hours as the amount of their business won't justify the increased operating cost, according to Jeff Gural, CEO and Chairman of American Racing & Entertainment LLC which owns Tioga Downs Casino. Tioga Downs currently closes at 3 a.m. and there is no plan to change.

Greenberg said Vernon Downs may extend their hours on weekends and holidays, but definitely wouldn't during the week.

Duffy said Empire City Casino, which is larger than Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs, will explore "what makes sense operationally" and adjust as needed.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jeffrey Klein, D-Bronx, was passed in the Assembly on June 19 and passed the Senate June 20. It awaits action by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.




http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-07-03-88497.113122-Bill-would-allow-racinos-to-stay-open-longer-hours.html

Empty promises

Massachusetts fell for the EMPTY PROMISES and OVERSTATED PROJECTIONS.

New Hampshire doesn't seem as willing.

My Turn; Empty promises on casino revenue, jobs

By GORDON ALLEN
For the Monitor
Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Many legislators leaning toward allowing casino gambling in New Hampshire do not like the social costs and risks it will bring. But they believe in the promises that gambling will provide stable tax revenue and good-paying jobs for New Hampshire residents.

 

The problem here is that these promises are just talk. Nowhere in the actual bill (HB 1633) being pushed by gambling interests is there anything in writing backing up these promises. There are absolutely no written guarantees for tax revenue and jobs in HB 1633. None. Nada. Zip.

 

To be specific, there is absolutely nothing in writing in all 99 pages of HB 1633 that requires even minimum levels of the tax revenue promised, or good pay and benefit levels for jobs, or even that most jobs will not go to Massachusetts workers. And despite the promises legislators hear over and over again, there is no answer to “show me the money” and “show me the jobs.”

As every legislator knows, if promises are not in writing in a bill, they are not real. Legislators can’t count on them or promise them. And passing HB 1633 based on these empty promises is not only unwise and irresponsible – it will be a disaster for our state.

 

The revenue promise that legislators hear all the time is a minimum of $104.6 million per year for the first year (increasing to $143 million in the 10th year) from the slots and table games at a 35 percent (slots) and 18 percent (table games) tax rate. In fact, the gambling lobbyists and their supporters often promise more because they say $104.6 million is a low estimate. But unless these promises are put in writing in HB 1633, they mean nothing – and it would certainly be foolhardy for the state to include this empty promise of $104.6 million in its budget.

New Hampshire deserves better. Lawmakers need to be sure those making the promises put their money where their mouth is. And if the gambling interests are so confident that New Hampshire will get at least this $104 million per year, why wouldn’t they jump at the chance of putting this requirement in HB 1633 and put these doubts and fears to rest?

Further, without written requirements for minimum revenue in this bill, we are in danger of falling into the same trap experienced by other states. This is where overly optimistic promises of high, stable and growing tax revenue are made before the vote. But then – after the vote – they fail to materialize. We need to learn from the costly mistakes of others. To protect us – the citizens of New Hampshire – our legislators must put producing $104.6 million as a non-negotiable condition for the gambling operator to keep its lucrative monopoly franchise.

Our legislators also hear over and over again similar promises about all the good-paying jobs that a slot casino will provide to state residents. Again, HB 1633 provides absolutely nothing in writing that requires the casino operator to pay a minimum livable wage. The same is true of setting minimum requirements for health, pension, vacation and sick-time benefits. There is nothing in HB 1633 to nail these promises down. Nothing. Nada. Zip.

 

There is at least a provision in HB 1633 suggesting that the casino gambling operator make some attempts to hire workers who live in New Hampshire. However, yet again, HB 1633 contains nothing in writing that even sets a goal for the proportion of workers who will be New Hampshire residents, let alone any penalties for missing it.

 

And without more teeth in HB 1633, most likely way over half of the casino workers will be from Massachusetts, not New Hampshire. A casino must be located near the Massachusetts border for maximum profits. This means the largest pool of casino workers will be from the Lawrence, Mass., labor market. Do we really want to bring a casino to New Hampshire, with all its costs and potential problems, to create jobs primarily for Massachusetts workers? This is not in the New Hampshire tradition.

 

There is no question our legislators have the right, as well as the clear responsibility, to put these promises in writing. A slot casino allowed to run 5,000 slots 24 hours a day and 365 days a year cannot exist without the Legislature overturning the 200-year-old law that prohibits it. Our legislators must make sure that in return for giving away all this – plus New Hampshire incurring all the new costs and other job and revenue losses that go along with it – this bill must include ironclad requirements.

 

To do anything less is clearly irresponsible and a reason in itself to kill HB 1633.

(Gordon Allen of Antrim is co-chairman of the Coalition for Open Democracy and chairman of WNHN-FM and the Granite State Coalition Against Expanded Gambling.)

 

 

 

http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/10984796-95/my-turn-empty-promises-on-casino-revenue-jobs

 

Plainville Host Community Public Hearing

Testimony
Plainville Host Community Public Hearing
January 21st, 2014

Dear Commissioners:

I write to you today to present an alternative view about the agreements struck between Penn National (Springfield Gaming and Redevelopment, LLC) and surrounding communities, particularly Foxborough. I say “alternative” because the opinions of Plainville’s selectmen, town administrator, and certain other town officials do not represent my views nor the views of many other Plainville residents.

More than a year and a half ago, Thomas Keen and I met with Joe Fernandes and his then-assistant Dave Gagnon to present our well-researched 13-page paper about what we felt needed to appear in the RFP for a Plainville gambling consultant. One of the issues we highlighted was a need to meet with our neighbors — Wrentham, North Attleborough, and Foxborough, especially — to discuss the impact of an expanded gambling facility on their borders. Both Mr. Fernandes and Mr. Gagnon dismissed the need for Plainville to consider the concerns of our neighbors, equating whatever impact might come from a casino with the impact on Plainville from Gillette Stadium and the Wrentham Outlet Mall; they were utterly dismissive of the needs of the surrounding towns because, they said, Plainville never received mitigation for the projects built in other communities. (Interestingly enough, Mr. Gagnon is now town administrator in West Bridgewater, for which he negotiated a rather comprehensive Surrounding Community Agreement with Raynham Park.)

As Selectman Rob Rose famously said when dismissing the concerns of Plainville residents about a casino in our neighborhood, “[Plainridge] almost isn’t even in Plainville.” Extrapolating from Rob’s snide remarks, it seems only reasonable that Plainville would support the efforts of its neighbors to protect themselves from the vagaries of a casino on their doorstep, especially because — due to their proximity — Foxborough and Wrentham are as likely to deal with the casino’s negative aspects of traffic, DUIs, and criminal behavior as Plainville is. Instead, the attitude of Mr. Fernandes, Ms. Soucy, and Mr. Rose toward our neighbors is to dismiss their concerns and to treat their representatives deplorably in public meetings, often with mean spirited, vindictive, and embarrassing comments.

At your October 22nd "Public Input Meeting" in Wrentham, Plainville Treasurer and Tax Collector Kathleen Parker demonstrated the ignorance and “magical thinking” prevalent among Plainville officials when it comes to the impact of a casino on our town and our neighbors towns. Speaking about the danger of drunk driving, Ms. Parker said, “... I don't remember ever hearing of a drunk driving accident coming out of Plainridge. I know we have our current Chief here, Police Chief as well as our current Fire Chief and our prior Police Chief. They would correct me if I am wrong. We have a very well-trained professional police department. We have people in the facility and we will continue to have more people in the facility if we are lucky enough to be granted this license. They are not going to let drunk drivers out onto our streets, their streets. Because not only are they our police officers, they are also our residents, if not within the town, in the neighboring towns. Their children, their neighbors are on the same streets that we'll all be using and that we have been using.”

As I pointed out in an email to Ms. Parker, “Plainridge has seen a relative handful of people in and out of their facility over the years, while the Plainridge Park Casino — should they receive the license and withstand the court challenge regarding equal protection — plans to have thousands of people there every day, for 24 hours a day, with alcohol (some of it free or cheap) served for 18 of those 24 hours. Plainville’s own gambling consultant’s report says there will most likely be an increase in both DUIs and fatalities. To think that a handful of cops can catch every drunk as he exits, or will stop every drunk driver before she leaves the town limits is simply a fantasy. To assure townspeople they have nothing to worry about is irresponsible.”

Regarding the “social ills,” Ms. Parker has faith that Plainville will be able to do what no other town in America has been able to do when expanded gambling moves in. She doesn’t think that the surrounding towns should be worried because she’s “... Thrilled to hear about the amount of money that's available for problem gambling... All of these things are addressed in the right and proper ways. We're not irresponsible in Plainville that we're going to allow any of the things to all of a sudden erupt like a volcano in our community and not have them addressed.”

In my email to her, I suggested that she might want to reconsider her “thrill” that there is money "available for problem gambling.” The money allotted to treat gamblers who are addicted to the Lottery, Keno, and horse racing is already not enough. Worse news, the amount casinos will eventually be required to pay each year toward problem gambling treatment has dropped by more than $20 million since Governor Patrick first rolled out his plans for casinos in 2007. Massachusetts legislators axed $560,000 from this fiscal year's budget for the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling, which, in turn, has put a big dent in the Council's plans to prepare for the four casinos in the commonwealth. (http://www.telegram.com/article/20130324/NEWS/103249834/0)

Even if the amount of money for treatment and prevention approached the amount necessary to treat every citizen who needs treatment, none of the monies set aside can or will be applied to the actual costs of the damage done by people struggling with gambling addiction: bankruptcies, child neglect, divorce, job loss, foreclosures, evictions, embezzlement, theft, arrests, homelessness … There are no sums set aside to feed or house families when a mother or father spends the grocery or rent money on slots, or when an elder uses her savings or her limited income on the "crack cocaine of gambling."

 

There is no money set aside to replace money lost in businesses when addicted employees resort to petty theft, when the addicted CEO loses the payroll, or to pay hospital bills resulting from domestic violence. There are no funds dedicated to help when a family member, addicted to gambling and drowning in debt, commits suicide. And, of the pittance set aside to deal with the addicted gamblers in the host communities, there are even fewer resources set aside for surrounding towns, even though none — NONE — of the impact of expanded gambling stops at the town line. To think is does is simply insane.

Ms. Parker’s thoughts on the casino — representative of the views of most town officials here in Plainville — are nothing more than wishful thinking. They see a wad of cash and they’re willing to believe anything to get it. Somehow, they have convinced themselves (or been convinced?) that Plainville will not suffer the ill effects that other towns around the world suffered when a casino moved in. Moreover, they have convinced themselves (or been convinced?) that surrounding towns won’t experience any ill effects from the casino. Worse news, they resent and belittle the efforts of our neighbors to try to protect their residents. How pathetic and sad is that?

Therefore, I urge you to disregard Plainville town officials when they challenge the right or the amount of the surrounding community agreements. They are people for whom reality and facts have little meaning. They have told themselves a fairytale, and a fairytale it shall be. Until the dragon shows up...

Respectfully submitted,

Mary-Ann Greanier

24/7/365 Alcohol in Maryland

Bars Serve Around the Clock at Most Maryland Casinos

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

For players at some Maryland casinos, there's never a last call for alcohol, as long as the games keep playing.

The Washington Post reports that unlike other bars in the state, three of Maryland's four casinos can serve alcohol around the clock. It's the result of a series of laws from the General Assembly and the gambling expanding referendum that voters approved last year.

That means last call is no more at Maryland Live Casino in Anne Arundel County, Hollywood Casino in Perryville and Rocky Gap Casino in western Maryland.

Some restaurant and bar owners complain, though, the casinos have an unfair advantage by serving alcohol around the clock. That's also worrying bars and restaurants in Baltimore where the state's fifth casino will open near the Inner Harbor in 2014. The new casino plans to operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

"I have great concerns that it won't be a level playing field," said Marc McFaul, who runs several Federal Hill drinking establishments close to the Horseshoe-branded casino site, including Ropewalk Tavern, Delia Foley's and Stalking Horse.

Horseshoe executives said the new casino will draw new visitors to Baltimore, and that will benefit other bars, restaurants and businesses.

The one casino in the state that does not serve alcohol all night is the Casino at Ocean Downs in Worcester County. Bar and restaurant owners in nearby Ocean City protested the idea of allowing all-night service just 10 minutes from the summer resort where alcohol sales end at 2 a.m. A compromise in the legislature mandated that the casino would stop serving alcohol at 4 a.m.

The move to 24-hour alcohol sales drew little debate in the legislature. As laws were passed to expand gambling, lawmakers approved bills to allow alcohol sales during all operating hours. The state does not allow free alcohol service. But some say there should have been more discussion.

"The first time someone dies from a drunk driver coming out of Maryland Live at 3 in the morning with chips in his pocket, then maybe it will be an issue," said Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D-Prince George's), an opponent of casino gambling.

Read more: http://www.wfmd.com/pages/localnews2.html?feed=119935&article=11937124#ixzz2pFQKPmCh

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January 1, 2014

Three of four casinos can serve alcohol around the clock

AnonymousAssociated Press

 

Some restaurant and bar owners complain, though, the casinos have an unfair advantage by serving alcohol around the clock. That’s also worrying bars and restaurants in Baltimore where the state’s fifth casino will open near the Inner Harbor in 2014. The new casino plans to operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

“I have great concerns that it won’t be a level playing field,” said Marc McFaul, who runs several Federal Hill drinking establishments close to the Horseshoe-branded casino site, including Ropewalk Tavern, Delia Foley’s and Stalking Horse.

Horseshoe executives said the new casino will draw new visitors to Baltimore, and that will benefit other bars, restaurants and businesses.

 

Slot Barns by whatever name attract local low rollers, destroying local businesses. Why would anyone believe local businesses will survive?

 

 

Huge gamble: No consumer protection

Bill Kearney

Massachusetts ‘Gaming’ Future

Bucks County Courier Times - December 1, 2013 - Huge gamble: No consumer protection

Before our gaming law passed in 2004, I was asked to give testimony at the Joint Public Hearings on gambling that was held in Philadelphia. They couldn't have picked a better day to discuss casino gambling; it was April 1st, "April Fool's Day."...

That day I presented my safeguards that address the predatory gaming provisions our lawmakers were about to sanction. Things like free booze, smoking, check cashing, interest free credit, free play, 24/7 gambling, and comps. I explained to them how these are the tools casino operators use to seduce their prey, but they didn't listen, and that's because they know better than to gamble in casinos.

I also brought up my casino monthly statements idea that day. Even though I know there was nothing going to stop them from passing our gaming law, I was hoping they would see the importance of these safeguards, especially the monthly statements, but that never happened. Our gaming law passed that year and for the last eight years I've been trying to get the casino monthly statements legislation that has been put forth in the House of Representatives for the last four sessions made the law.

Today, there are 12 casinos operating throughout our state with all the above provisions. In layman's terms they’re operating like amusement parks with no safety belts or cages on their rides. In other words, there is absolutely no consumer protection.

You can help stop our casinos from turning law-abiding Pennsylvanians into compulsive casino gambling degenerates who will become criminals by calling your state legislators and telling them you support the only legislation since our gaming law passed that addresses the compulsive casino gambling problem before, not after, one has the problem, HB-1335. (Casino Monthly Statements)

Bill Kearney

Philadelphia

http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/opinion/letters/huge-gamble-no-consumer-protection/article_04b0f050-3538-5894-aed1-9db24a7a9406.html#user-comment-areaSee More

"It's just another Thursday"

Almost every function of government will come to a standstill tomorrow [Thanksgiving] as most Americans share Thanksgiving with their families and friends. But it will be business as usual for government's cheating and exploitation of citizens through its sponsorship of casinos and predatory state lotteries. It's just another Thursday. In fact, government-sponsored gambling has become such an important and essential function of the state that it runs every day of the year including all holidays.

When you celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, please include a remembrance and a prayer for the millions of citizens and their families whose lives have been deemed expendable by one of the most unethical public policies of our times.

It's not a matter of if this public policy will end but when. It's inevitable. But while it may be inevitable, it will require an enormous sacrifice of our time, sweat and resources to achieve the result. Please consider our mission as one of your priorities on #GivingTuesday and in the year ahead. Thank you.

Best,

Les Bernal

Executive Director

Stop Predatory Gambling

Reducing drunks from casinos.......

Massachusetts is somehow going to be magically different? Don't believe it! 

Stop Graton Casino

IS GRATON CASINO FIRST CASINO TO HAVE NO DUI'S? Of course it isn't isn't! Read what's happening at Thunder Valley Casino August 2013 (10 years after opening day): “In our particular case, we saw the casino’s biggest impact was related to property crime and alcohol and drugs. The five-year average from 2008 to 2013 was 16 percent of all Thunder Valley Casino cases were alcohol-related, and most of those were DUIs,” he said. " http://www.placerherald.com/article/rocklin-pd-starts-dui-reduction-program

Rocklin PD starts DUI reduction program

Grant pays officers overtime to crack down on casino corridor

By: Andrew Westrope, Staff Writer

Facing an uptick in drunk driving incidents and a decline in enforcement funding, the Rocklin...

http://www.placerherald.com/article/rocklin-pd-starts-dui-reduction-program

DeBeasi: Casinos and drunk driving

Casino-Free Milford

DEBEASI:

"A major impact of the casino will be a rise in the rate of drunk driving. The host town to Foxwoods in Connecticut (Ledyard) has 2.5 times the drunk driving arrests per year compared to Milford (75 versus 30). And Ledyard has 10,000 fewer people than Milford!"


http://www.milforddailynews.com/opinions/letters_to_the_editor/x1783716813/DeBeasi-Casinos-and-drunk-driving

 

 

 

DeBeasi: Casinos and drunk driving

Posted Nov 12, 2013

 

MILFORD —

Milford has been a wonderful place for my wife and I to raise our three sons. We have always felt a sense of safety and tranquility in Milford. However, if we permit Foxwoods to build a resort casino in our town it will never be the same.'

A major impact of the casino will be a rise in the rate of drunk driving. The host town to Foxwoods in Connecticut (Ledyard) has 2.5 times the drunk driving arrests per year compared to Milford (75 versus 30). And Ledyard has 10,000 fewer people than Milford!

Not only will Milford experience more drunk driving but, sadly, we will also experience an increase in drunk driving fatalities. Information derived the City-Data graphs for New London county (home of both Connecticut casinos) shows a 52 percent higher rate of drunk driving fatalities than the state average. This should not be surprising given that the casino will serve alcohol all day and night.

Lastly, the casino places a greater risk on our children from intoxicated casino patrons driving through our town. There are 15 schools and 19 childcare centers within a four-mile radius of the casino. Do we really think it is a good idea to place a resort casino so close to our schools and child care centers?

A casino will forever change our beautiful town of Milford. I urge all Milford residents to vote NO on the Foxwoods Massachusetts proposal.

PAUL DEBEASI
Milford

 

 

 

 

Lots of People Already Quitting Their Jobs at Cleveland Casino

Could it be the LOW WAGES?

Lots of People Already Quitting Their Jobs at Cleveland Casino

Posted by Vince Grzegorek                                     

The Horseshoe Casino’s first days in business were bound to include a few kinks here and there.

Would Mike Trivisonno’s poker table require delivery of fried chicken? Would he fetch his own?

But word inside Dan Gilbert’s palace is that the house is dealing with more than a few hiccups in its opening weeks — most notably that a ton of employees have already quit.

“People can’t handle it,” says one Horseshoe employee who asked not to be ratted out for talking to people of our dubious stock. “It’s the stress. It’s a lot of culture shock. A lot of people from all departments have already quit. It’s visibly noticeable and something we talk about.”

Many of the problems stem from the casino’s hiring philosophy, says the staffer. “The process was kind of like American Idol, which was cool. But even if you were experienced, you might have been turned down because they wanted to hire based on having an upbeat and positive attitude. There are people working here who had never even frequented a casino as a guest before.”

A second casino employee who also declined to be named confirms that workers are fleeing like Browns fans at halftime. Consensus is it’s the relatively inexperienced older folks who are cashing out early, and that plenty of workers are thoroughly enjoying themselves. But management isn’t exactly giving them reason to stay.

“Cage cashiers have had a serious problem with quitting because they’re keeping them way too long — 11-hour days,” says the employee. Even worse: Slot attendants work for $6 an hour plus tips, which have been all but nonexistent.

“I saw four people crying after they looked at their paychecks. Some people are really flipping their shit.
“A lot of people quit when they didn’t get the shifts they wanted, acting like it’s the first day of sixth grade and you’re picking your homeroom. It’s every department: dealers, cashiers, attendants, security.”

Dealers, in particular, have been flagged for not being polite enough, fast enough — even correct enough. “They just brought in 14 experienced dealers to deal with that.”





EXPERIENCED DEALERS FROM OUT-OF-TOWN?

Rock Gaming says it’s casino business as usual.

“We intentionally staffed up,” says spokeswoman Jennifer Kulczycki. “Caesar’s has opened casinos before, and they know when you bring a new industry to a new market and people aren’t familiar with a 24/7 operation, you anticipate some attrition. Sixteen hundred is normal operating conditions, and we hired over 1,600.”

But even more troubling are emerging rumors that Horseshoe guests can’t get a timely beverage.
“The waitresses have been awful,” one worker says. “It takes over 20 minutes to get a drink. I’ve got customers asking me about their drink nonstop.”

So the place sucks?

“I love it. I’d be bored if I wasn’t doing this.”

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2012/05/31/lots-of-people-already-quitting-their-jobs-at-cleveland-casino

 

Twin River gets OK for more live table games after less than 3 months

Twin River gets OK for more live table games after less than 3 months
Published: September 09, 2013 Bob Thayer/The Providence Journal

Bob Thayer/The Providence Journal

A roulette table at Twin River in Lincoln. The casino has won state Lottery approval to increase the number of live table games.

By Katherine Gregg
Providence Journal
Published: September 09 2013 11:30

PROVIDENCE — Twin River Casino has won state Lottery approval to increase the number of live table games at the sprawling electronic slot parlor that morphed in mid-June into a full-blown casino.

A spokeswoman confirmed Monday that the Lincoln casino has been granted permission by state Lottery Director Gerald Aubin to up the number of Las Vegas-style betting games — such as blackjack and roulette — from 66 to 80. The permission was granted on Friday.

Twin River’s owners spent roughly $7 million to renovate the gambling hall to accommodate the live gambling action, after winning voter approval last November. They also hired approximately 400 more workers to oversee the expanded operation that opened on June 19.

In an email advising lawmakers of the decision to allow more table games, the state’s director of revenue, Rosemary Booth Gallogly, said: “This proposal can be accomplished with the existing footprint of the building without reducing the number of VLTs.”

VLT is the acronym for the 4,538 electronic gambling machines — also known as Video Lottery Terminals — placed at Twin River by the state Lottery, under terms where the state keeps roughly 61 cents of every dollar a gambler left behind.

The state’s share of the table game action is only 18 percent, and Twin River had dropped the number of VLTs from 4,752 in January to the current 4,538. The casino nonetheless predicted the new games would generate $16 million to $20 million in additional revenue annually for the state, including “companion play” on the VLTs. The state’s own projections for this year are more conservative.

August numbers are not yet available. But in July, the state’s share of the gambling bounty went up.

In that one month, July, the state reaped $24,891,666 from the VLTs and $1,078,879 from the table games, compared with $24,722,239 from the VLTs alone in July 2012, according to the Lottery.

“There will be approximately 100 low-performing VLTs taken offline during the construction period,” with no significant financial impact, Gallogly wrote key lawmakers.

“Construction in the Table Game area and in the High Roller room will be done simultaneously, with an estimated completion date around Thanksgiving. At that time, 100 high-denomination VLTs will be added to the High Roller room.”

And “since it will not result in fewer VLTs over the long term, and serves to satisfy a demand presented by these new gaming patrons, I support the request as a defensive measure against competition,” she wrote.

A number of questions have yet to be answered by Twin River and the state Lottery, including a breakdown of the kind of games that Twin River intends to install, and the impact, if any, on the casino’s staffing needs.

But in response to a Providence Journal inquiry, Twin River spokeswoman Patti Doyle said: “We received approval on Friday to increase the number of table games from 66 to 80. The request was borne out [by] the fact that the table games have exceeded our expectations in many respects.

“Twin River chairman John E. Taylor, Jr. has said in the past that the market would largely dictate any expansion plans and that was certainly the case here,” Doyle said. “Twin River is planning to announce later this week the plan and timetable for bringing on line the additional games.”
In the era before voters approved a separation-of-powers amendment to the state Constitution, Lottery decisions such as this were discussed and approved at the public meetings of a Lottery Commission made up of both legislative and executive appointees. Since the dismantling of this and other state boards, decisions are made internally, without public discussion or debate.

Aubin was not immediately available for comment. But when asked, Doyle confirmed Twin River’s request was made to the Lottery on Aug. 19.

State sponsored gambling is the third largest source of state revenue, behind sales and income taxes.

The Lottery is expected to contribute a total of $394.1 million to the state treasury during the budget year that began on July 1.

That includes $63 million from traditional Lottery games such as scratch tickets, Keno and other numbers games such as Powerball and Mega Millions, and a total of $324.6 million from the VLTs at Twin River ($298.2) and the smaller Newport Grand ($26.4 million).

The top financial advisers to the House, Senate and governor are betting that the new table games will produce $60 million in net new revenue at Twin River. The state’s 18-percent share would total $10.8 million, but after the $4.3 million estimated cost of regulation is deducted, they expect, the state will net $6.5 million.

House Finance Committee Chairman Helio Melo, who has been watching the monthly revenue numbers closely, issued this statement on Monday in response to an inquiry about the approval of more table games:

“I am pleased to learn that the table games have been so successful, particularly in light of the impending competition coming from Massachusetts. It is also very significant that the Lottery Division is ensuring there will be no negative impact to the VLTs, which are an important revenue source to our state of Rhode Island.”

Track casino is a horse of a different color

Track casino is a horse

of a different color
 

To the editor:

Opponents of slots at Plainridge are certainly concerned about traffic ("Mall at Plainridge worse than slot parlor" Aug. 19). We're concerned about speeding and overcrowding on neighborhood roads not intended for a huge increase in cars. We will still have those concerns - and we will voice those concerns - when the next business opens at the Plainridge site.
 

But, we know that no other business will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, selling and giving away alcohol for 18 of those 24 hours, accounting for an inevitable increase in DUI injuries and fatalities.

However, Mr. Ferrario misses the other concerns we have: the loss of local discretionary funds to the out-of-state owners of Plainridge, impacting local families and businesses in Plainville and surrounding communities; we believe Mr. Trump when he says, "People will spend a tremendous amount of money in casinos, money that they would normally spend on buying a refrigerator or a new car. Local businesses will suffer because they lose customer dollars to the casinos."
 

We're concerned that the National Association of Realtors calls the impact of casinos on a town's property values "unambiguously negative."
 

We are extremely worried about the likely 44 percent increase in gambling addiction within 10 miles of the facility, increasing domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, embezzlement, theft, bankruptcies, financial disaster, and other social ills in our community. We know that the greatest profit in casinos comes from 4-10 percent of the people who lose their money there - those people are generally the "problem gamblers." And we will have 44 percent more of them in the first three years of operation of a racetrack casino.

We're worried about collateral damage to the area when payday loan stores, pawn shops,and other less-than-savory businesses move in, including prostitution and hot-bedding (when two, or even three people who work different shifts share the same bed at different times).

And our list of concerns goes on and on. Traffic? Sure, we're worried, especially those of us who live closest to the site. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. A mall we can live with. A racetrack casino is - if you'll pardon the expression - a horse of a different color.

Mary-Ann Greanier

Plainville


http://www.thesunchronicle.com/vip/opinion/letters_to_editor/why-we-remember-georgie-porgie/article_b7a247a2-f274-58b4-8d36-1f0feccc26a3.html

 

Big ‘pay off’ not worth casino woes

Russ: Big ‘pay off’ not worth casino woes

The MetroWest Daily News

Posted Aug 18, 2013

How unbelievable is this? Here in Milford, our elected officials are dazzled by the potential of $20 million in property tax revenue from a 24/7 gambling establishment. All while parading the promise of these millions, Foxwoods in the same breath, talks of dealing with the increase in the well documented problem of gambling addiction in and around a casino town. The plan legislated by the state to deal with this is woefully inadequate with passive measures such as sign posting and on site counseling. Is this not like treating an alcoholic in a bar? How can such a ridiculous contradiction to common sense occur? Are we, the residents of Milford, ready to accept such a social decline in the town we call home?

Our local government, being pandered to by Foxwoods, is contemplating the acceptance of addiction, crime, water shortages, increased traffic congestion, social issues, and who knows what… all for the promise of some big pay off. Our homes will be unsellable and our town a casino doormat; a place to be avoided by all except the gamblers and recreational partiers. Now there is a legacy worth forgetting.

TOM RUSS

Milford


http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinions/letters_to_the_editor/x853702592/Russ-Big-pay-off-not-worth-casino-woes

The Palmer Boozerino!

Yup! 24/7/365!

Northeast Realty requests additional liquor licenses for Palmer property
By Lori Stabile, The RepublicanThe Republican
on July

Northeast Realty requests additional liquor licenses for Palmer property

Mohegan Sun releases four traffic options for proposed $1 billion resort casino in Palmer

Massachusetts State Police: Camper trailer rollover causing delays on Massachusetts Turnpike in Palmer

Palmer town councilor wants details on Mohegan Sun's traffic plans for proposed casino; Mohegan Sun says details will be released Wednesday

Palmer Town Council suspends balloon test for proposed casino hotel

PALMER — Northeast Realty has asked for additional liquor licenses as part of its development along Thorndike Street (Route 32) near Mohegan Sun's proposed resort casino site.

Town Council President Philip J. Hebert acknowledged the letter from Northeast Realty's lawyer, Stephen E. Spelman, at Monday's Town Council meeting.

The letter asks for two additional liquor licenses for phase 1 of its development project at Thorndike and Shearer streets, also known as the "triangle" area, and four additional liquor licenses as part of phase 2 of the project, which includes creating a lifestyle center on property adjoining the casino site.
Northeast is leasing 152 acres to Mohegan for the casino project.

Executive Assistant Andrew Golas said there are 38 liquor licenses in town – 20 for restaurants and bars and 18 for package stores. Town Manager Charles T. Blanchard said he believes the town is at its maximum for liquor licenses; the Legislature must be petitioned before additional licenses can be awarded.

Blanchard said the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission has been contacted to find out what the process is for granting additional licenses. He said this was done out of courtesy.

"We want to find out if we ever have an option to increase the number of licenses," Blanchard said.

"We're just looking into the situation. We're not saying we agree."

James L. St. Amand, Northeast's community liaison, said, "We want to be in a position to have economic development with or without a casino."

Leon Dragone

Northeast is in partnership with Cardinal's View of Grove Street, Worcester, for this development. Cardinal's View lists its resident agent as Thomas Cunningham and managers as Leon H. Dragone and Jeffrey E. Cunningham, according to filings with the Secretary of State's office. Dragone is the manager of Northeast Realty.

The former icehouse property on Shearer Street, targeted as part of Northeast's development, is owned by Cunningham Equities, according to town of Palmer property records. The head of Cunningham Equities, also based on Grove Street in Worcester, is Jeffrey Cunningham. Dragone said he owns a 50 percent stake in the old Rondeau property. Previously, the property was owned by another Cunningham business venture, KSJ Realty.

Dragone said Cunningham refurbished the HPAC building at 306 Race St., Holyoke, which is being used by the Sisters of Providence Health System, and also developed 18 units known as Cardinal's Ridge in Worcester.

Northeast is calling the development of this area "The Gateway to Western Massachusetts" and has announced plans for a Pride gas station and convenience store there, as well as restaurants and a medical office building. That development will take place on 20 acres abutting the turnpike exit 8.

Northeast also owns an additional 110 acres next to the casino site that it plans to develop as part of phase 2 of its project - that development will include a lifestyle center with a mixture of indoor and outdoor attractions, as well as retail shops and an outdoor skating rink. Dragone has said it will resemble "Downtown Disney."

The map below shows Thorndike and Shearer streets, also known as the "triangle" area, where Northeast Realty has asked for two additional liquor licenses for phase 1 of its development project near the proposed Mohegan Sun Massachusetts casino:


View Larger Map


http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/07/northeast_realty_requests_addi.html

 

PA: NO Monthly Statements

Bill Kearney

Massachusetts 'GAMING' Future

After numerous attempts I finally got to talk with the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, Bill Ryan. He was taking questions on the PENNSYLVANIA CABLE NETWORK call in program. You can hear my question by opening the video link below. The video is an hour long, but if you go to the timer on the bottom left side and put it on forty two minutes thirty seconds, (42:30) you will hear my question.

http://pcntv.com/blog/2013/05/01/may-1-pa-gaming/

 

 

 

 

Bill Kearney•a day ago

 

When governments make vices legal you’re left with no other
choice but to put regulations into the laws that govern these vices. When it comes
to the gaming industry vice I know that putting regulations into gaming laws
things like No 24/7 Gambling, No Free Booze, No Smoking, No Check Cashing, No
Interest Free Credit, No Free Play, No Comps, and making casino operators send
Casino Monthly Statements along with making them and their employees intervene
when their patrons are gambling excessively will stop the ‘BREEDING’ of
compulsive casino gambling degenerates who will become criminals. These regulations
will also make it an even playing field for business owners that are within a
10 to 20 mile radius of casinos, especially those who have liquor, food, and
entertainment licensees.

To learn more about this ‘VICE’ know today as ‘GAMING’ go on
line and Google-up Bill Kearney on casino gambling.

 

Racinos

Which came first? The death of racing or the pretense that Slot Barns would save them?

Twin River was supposed to 'save racing' - great pretense! In bankruptcy court, they eliminated the subsidy for racing.  The same thing will happen in Massachusetts....we just pretend otherwise.

Bill Kearney

Massachusetts ‘Gaming’ Future

The Associated Press - March 6, 2013 - W.Va. casinos seek break from taxes, racing

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - As West Virginia's four racetrack casinos face growing competition from across the state's borders, several lawmakers introduced a measure Wednesday that would slash the taxes and fees they pay by an estimated $28.3 million a year and allow them to scale back racing.
...
Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20130306_ap_wvacasinosseekbreakfromtaxesracing.html#ixzz2MrhygZrh

Save the horse industry was the first pitch our lawmakers used when they first started ‘PIMPING’ casinos for Pennsylvania. Now it’s true that our dying horse racing industry has been brought back to life, but it’s not because of greater attendance or from people gambling at our horse tracks. It’s because they’re being subsidized from the ‘BILLIONS’ of dollars that Pennsylvanians are losing in our casinos annually.

Casinos are the main reason why the horse racing industry is dying in our country and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand why, but it helps being an ex-casino gambling degenerate like myself to prove and explain why.

Here in Philadelphia, Pa. we once had four horse-racing tracks within an hour or so ride from one another, Liberty Bell Park, Brandywine, Garden State, and Atlantic City race track. The first three tracks closed down completely once casino gambling became legal in Atlantic City. The Atlantic City race course holds a few live racing events each year just to keep with state law in order to hold simulcast betting throughout the year.

The reason why the horse racing industry is dying is because it is completely unarmed to compete against casinos that are operating 24/7, serving Free booze, designated SMOKING areas, cashing personal Check, offering interest Free Credit, Free Play and Comping their patrons so they can justify their losses.

Go to any horse racing track in our country and you will see very few patrons under the age of fifty. The new generation of gamblers doesn’t have the patience to wait for a horse to run around in a circle to get their fix. They need it instantaneously, and that’s what casino gambling does. In other words, comparing horse racing gambling and casino gambling is like comparing marijuana to crack cocaine.

The only way the horse racing industry might have a shot in today’s casino gambling world would be for them to go to a Ben-Hur theme, with chariots, whips, swards, and spears.See More

 

 

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - As West Virginia's four racetrack casinos face growing competition from across the state's borders, several lawmakers introduced a measure Wednesday that would slash the taxes and fees they pay by an estimated $28.3 million a year and allow them to scale back racing.

And while the casinos aren't seeking to end racing , West Virginia first legalized other forms of gambling at these sites to support the racing industry , they also need greater control of their costs, said John Cavacini, lobbyist and president of the state Racing Association.

"If a racetrack is losing money on racing, it has to consider a reduction of racing days and the viability of live racing," Cavacini said Wednesday. "It's purely an economical, business model concept of the operation."

Groups representing racing workers at the state's horse tracks did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday. Five Democratic senators sponsored the measure, including two whose district includes the Northern Panhandle casinos. It would cut the annual fee that each casino now pays to host table games such as craps and roulette by more than half, from $2.5 million to $1 million.

The fees benefit senior citizen programs, and the bill proposes offsetting the resulting annual $6 million revenue loss by dipping into the purse fund for race winners by that amount.

The state's share of table game proceeds would drop from 35 percent of gross receipts to 25 percent. This tax on table games reaped $78.1 million during the last budget year, and the proposed rate change would have reduced that amount by $22.3 million.

The bill pares down the minimum number of live racing days at all four tracks from 200 to 150. Actual racing days ranged from 210 days at the Northern Panhandle's Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort to 311 days at the Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Kanawha County in 2011, the latest year for which figures were available from the West Virginia Racing Commission. The measure would also allow each casino to set the number of races per day, a power now wielded by the Racing Commission.

Mountaineer and the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in the Eastern Panhandle offer horse racing, while greyhounds race at Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island Casino & Resort in the Northern Panhandle.

Cavacini counted 14 competing gambling facilities that have opened in border states over the past four years. They include two racetrack casinos in Pittsburgh, while Ohio has opened slot machine rooms at seven racetracks as well as four stand-alone casinos. Maryland, meanwhile, has allowed slot machines since 2010 and on Wednesday granted a license allowing its first casino to offer table games since voters approved that expansion in November.

All 14 venues cited by Cavacini are within 150 miles of the Northern Panhandle's two tracks, he said.
"These monies would be used for marketing, promotions, giveaways, incentives for people to come to the (casinos)," Cavacini said of the bill's provisions. "They would be pure marketing dollars to try to win back the customers we have lost."

Mountaineer is owned by MTR Gaming, which also operates several of the competing Ohio gambling sites. The Hollywood Casino is part of Penn National Gaming, which also includes competitors in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

A majority of gamblers at West Virginia's casinos hail from other states. Even Mardi Gras, which unlike the other sites is not in a border county, relies on other states for two-thirds of its patrons. But figures presented earlier this week by the Lottery Commission, which oversees all casino gambling except race wagering, show that the in-state share of gamblers is creeping upward for at least two of the casinos.

Cavacini said the casinos provided $430 million in revenues to state, county and municipal government during the last budget year despite economic woes, and employ 4,000 people on the non-racing side of their operations.

"We want to maintain that revenue stream, and keep those people working. That's the goal," Cavacini said.


Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20130306_ap_wvacasinosseekbreakfromtaxesracing.html#ixzz2Mu33ccqU
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