The Casino Report Is In
And apparently lots of people are not happy about this result. The NJ has the story.
The Sports and Video Lottery Commission ordered this report to study the impact of proposed new casinos on current operations and state revenues. The study came back, recommending that two casinos be added — one in the northeast part of Delaware and the other in the southwest part to compete with new venues in MD and PA but also noting that the additional venues would take money from the current venues. The study also recommends no new racetracks.
The reaction surveyed by the NJ is interesting — the people sponsoring the proposed Millsboro casino seem miffed all the way around, and a rep from the Dover casino thinks the study methodology is wrong. Colin Bonini seems miffed that they did not study having eight casinos in the state — a clear case of believing your own propaganda, I guess. There’s no reaction from the Wilmington casino advocates, but based upon this article, it looks like positions are hardening here in favor of chosen interests and consideration of what might be best for the state — a competitive casino industry and more money for the state (revenues, jobs, etc) is falling by the wayside.
I’m still not crazy about this casino business and largely for the reason that is demonstrated by this article. But this looks like the competitive challenge to me:
William Fasy, president of Delaware Park, was drawn to figures showing that 39.5 percent of adults polled by TMG had visited a casino within the last 12 months. That number dropped to 21.8 percent when respondents were asked if they were regular visitors to Delaware casinos.
Lots of people will go to a casino. Fewer will make the point of going to a Delaware casino. Doubling down on the status quo doesn’t fix that.
Tags: Delaware Casinos
I’ll admit that I’ve never been, nor had the desire to go, to a Delaware Casino. But, then again, I’ve always considered slots a sucker’s game. 😉
I haven’t been to a Delaware Casino, either. My houseguests who want to gamble always want to go to Atlantic City, which works for me since there is other stuff to do there. And I don’t get the slots thing, either.
But it also strikes me that this report may be pointing at the zero sum horizon that casinos everywhere will approach. It seems to say that you can compete with new facilities in MD and PA and maintain some revenue with new facilities that are proximate to where people will actually have casino alternatives. But I suspect that many Delaware legislators will not want to leave the Dover and Harrington facilities to their eventual fate to get to that better competition.
I find it odd but typical, Jerry Felcher as been stating the zero sum game arguement for years and no one listened, gambling is here to stay, just like alcohol, it,s up to the individual to make intelligent decisions and not abuse it.