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Casino?

Cotuit

By Cotuit
in Rhode Island

Do you want a casino in Rhode Island?  

68 members have voted

  1. 1. Do you want a casino in Rhode Island?

    • Yes
      20
    • No
      48

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Mij Whistle-Stop

Mij

Posted
Posted

If you think poverty is an issue now, wait and see if a casino is built. It will undermine all revitalization efforts. Period. Has anyone ever been outside the Vegas strip and see what Vegas really looks like. If a casino was ever built here, petty crime, murder, bankruptcies, and neglect would all exceed previous records. :(

Dude you are so off base with that garbage.

Vegas has a strip. We will not. More then likely we will never have a casino. If for some strange reason we do it will never rival Vegas. It would probly be more like Mohegan, and damn those are some tough streets.

As was posted

1) The state is way too dependent on sin taxes. But looking at it both ways, how much money drives to CT. each year?

2) Harras deal sux. Yup. Better leadership has to prevail.

3) Patriarca may be gone, but the mob is still active in this state. This is weak at best. The FBI has such a commanding presence at major casino's or venues were games of chance involve $.

4) Social services - I agree completely. From a business perspective you have to consider return on investment. I

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Frankie811 City

Frankie811

Posted
Posted

Lincoln Park and Newport Grand have created social problems all across the state, but not on the scale that a mega- casino would. Both NG and LP only have slots and neither have full-scale entertainment options. ( clubs, restaurants, and hotels) They both are on buslines, but are not easily served from people all over the place. Providence is the central hub for transportation from all over the state. It's much more accessible to a bigger population than those other areas. Furthermore, if a casino were built, LP and NG would be eventually out of business. That's why they were so adamant about the Harrah's proposal. I agree, Cotuit, that it is "sin" development. The negatives outweigh the positives. ...IMO...I'm not against sex clubs, but I think they could more tastefully fit into heir surroundings. Allens Ave. would be much better off being redeveloped economically as waterfront property than as a combat zone. There are other industrial areas in the city that would suit just fine and are within the realm of the zoning ordinance.

I wonder how much of an effect the new Rt 95 off and on ramps to Allens Ave, RI Hospital had on the decision to bring this proposal forward. I have a had time imagining a casino among all those oil and gas tanks and other urban blight. Allens Ave could soon be known as sin alley. :ph34r:

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Cotuit Megalopolis

Cotuit

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1) The state is way too dependent on sin taxes. But looking at it both ways, how much money drives to CT. each year?

2) Harras deal sux. Yup. Better leadership has to prevail.

3) Patriarca may be gone, but the mob is still active in this state. This is weak at best. The FBI has such a commanding presence at major casino's or venues were games of chance involve $.

4) Social services - I agree completely. From a business perspective you have to consider return on investment. I

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Jerry2 Hamlet

Jerry2

Posted
Posted

Dude you are so off base with that garbage.

Vegas has a strip. We will not. More then likely we will never have a casino. If for some strange reason we do it will never rival Vegas. It would probly be more like Mohegan, and damn those are some tough streets.

No. It won't be a strip but there is enough poverty in Providence to exacerbate the problem...IMO Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods are in rural areas. The nearest "cities" ( Westerly, R.I., New London, Norwich) all have way greater crime rates than before the casinos were built. Also, Vegas is a tourist city because of the casinos on the strip. Go off the strip to downtown. There's plenty of casinos out there and see the clientele that frequents them. The $$ issue going over state borders is lame.If they ( CT ) benefit so much from their casinos, the cities and towns would not be in the financial and socio-economic position that some are in. Casinos are yo-yo economic development engines. They may give the state $$, but they also suck $$ from the same pool they give to. They are quite similar to Wal-Mart in that respect.

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brick Burg

brick

Posted
Posted

Also, Vegas is a tourist city because of the casinos on the strip. Go off the strip to downtown. There's plenty of casinos out there and see the clientele that frequents them.

Actually the downtown casinos are also cleaning up in Vegas.

Not that that's particularly relevant, I just thought I would point it out.

I never really know what to think about casinos. If we had one, I would go, but I tend to make decent choices about my money and I wouldn't lose anything I couldn't afford to. There are plenty of people who do not fit that description, unfortunately.

There needs to be some kind of casino which has like a proof of disposable income requirement. then you get the whales who just like to gamble and have tons of extra $$ without also sucking down the people who need the money they are gambling away, and it becomes an extra (voluntary) tax on the wealthy.

does anyone have real statistics on crime?

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Frankie811 City

Frankie811

Posted
Posted

I just watched the 5:00 TV news and there was NO mention of bringing a casino to Providence. Apparently Patrick Conley, an expert (?) on the RI consitution, is working with the Narragansett Indians to address the legality of a casino in RI. He spoke at a news conference this afternoon at the state house.

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Frankie811 City

Frankie811

Posted
Posted

I just watched the 5:00 TV news and there was NO mention of bringing a casino to Providence. Apparently Patrick Conley, an expert (?) on the RI consitution, is working with the Narragansett Indians to address the legality of a casino in RI. He spoke at a news conference this afternoon at the state house.

Hmmmmm I wonder where the journal got this rumor from?

Quote from projo.com:

But Governor Carcieri continues to oppose "the creation of a Harrah's casino in Rhode Island," according to his press secretary, Jeff Neal.

"As the governor has explained many times, a casino will undercut state revenues, hurt local businesses, and increase the potential for crime and corruption," Neal said.

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Cotuit Megalopolis

Cotuit

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Was just reading that on ProJo. Seems to be a false alarm...bringing conley in as a constitutional expert. Weird set of coincidences if you ask me...

Yes, weird coincidences... Conley may just enjoy the game of playing with the Constitution, but I would not be surprised to learn he has much more at stake here, up to and including bringing the casino to his property.

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Baines Hamlet

Baines

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Posted

Actually the downtown casinos are also cleaning up in Vegas.

Not that that's particularly relevant, I just thought I would point it out.

I never really know what to think about casinos. If we had one, I would go, but I tend to make decent choices about my money and I wouldn't lose anything I couldn't afford to. There are plenty of people who do not fit that description, unfortunately.

There needs to be some kind of casino which has like a proof of disposable income requirement. then you get the whales who just like to gamble and have tons of extra $$ without also sucking down the people who need the money they are gambling away, and it becomes an extra (voluntary) tax on the wealthy.

does anyone have real statistics on crime?

2004 UCR

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

Population of City/County - 1,230,000

Violent Crime - 9,783

Rate Per 100,000 pop - 815

Providence Police Department

Population of City Only - 178,000

Violent Crime - 1,082

Rate Per 100,000 pop - 541

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Cotuit Megalopolis

Cotuit

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ProJo calls for vote on casino

It's hard to argue that the Narragansetts shouldn't get an up-or-down vote from their fellow Rhode Islanders, since two casinos in the state, in Newport and Lincoln, are already raking in cash.
Two wrongs make a right now?

Can anyone who's been in Rhode Island longer than me educate the rest of us on the circumstances under which this came up to a vote (and was defeated) previously? I've heard it's been voted on before, but don't know the particulars.

And a letter on the topic.

...what I perceive to be injustice and racial discrimination by the Rhode Island government toward the Narragansett Indians.

Racist? Whatever, it's not the Narragansett's casino, why don't people understand that? it's Harrah's.

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runturtlerun Unincorporated Area

runturtlerun

Posted
Posted

I say no for all of the reasons already stated,

HOWEVER,

when I was in grad school, a professor of mine, also a community economic development consultant, had done a study on the economic impact of a casino on someplace in Mississippi, I think Biloxi. To the surprise of many, especially her, the casino actually had a POSITIVE impact on education, crime (!), tax burden, and economic activity. it was pretty interesting, because the findings went against many of the accepted assumptions of negative impact from these stand alone casinos...

Biloxi has to be one of the most depressing and depressed places I have ever visited! I would have to argue with your professor there ...

I say NO WAY to the casino. The impacts would be hugely negative on our infrastructure and economy.

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chaz200 Unincorporated Area

chaz200

Posted
Posted

We already have 2 casinos, Lincoln and Newport. We hide that fact by calling the machines video lottery terminals but they are the same machines you find in any casino, slot machines. The only thing our casinos don't have is table gaming. I heard Newport is being sold and a hotel is proposed, turning it into a gambling destination. Don't know if that is still the case.

Our Governor talks about being opposed to casinos in RI yet approves the expansion of the number of machines in our existing casinos. A large part of out state's revenue is generated from gambling be it lottery, keno, scratch tickets, or our casinos.

The question isn't whether we want a casino in RI it is do we want to expand our casino's to table gaming and allow the Narragansetts to own one?

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Frankie811 City

Frankie811

Posted
Posted

Can anyone who's been in Rhode Island longer than me educate the rest of us on the circumstances under which this came up to a vote (and was defeated) previously? I've heard it's been voted on before, but don't know the particulars.

Right! The Narragansetts did propose a casino back in the late 90's for West Greenwich, RI. It was decided that EVERY city and town must put this vote on their ballot just in order for it to appear on a statewide ballot. Of course it was soundly defeated by the people. Former Sen. John Chaffee also made some moves in Washington to prevent Native Americans from bringing a casino to RI.

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MikeR Hamlet

MikeR

Posted
Posted

ProJo calls for vote on casino

Two wrongs make a right now?

Can anyone who's been in Rhode Island longer than me educate the rest of us on the circumstances under which this came up to a vote (and was defeated) previously? I've heard it's been voted on before, but don't know the particulars.

And a letter on the topic.

Racist? Whatever, it's not the Narragansett's casino, why don't people understand that? it's Harrah's.

In a nutshell, for the Narragansett tribe to have federal recognition, they had to agree to submit to R.I. law, which means any vote for a casino gambling expansion) has to be approved by the voters. This has been shot down already several times by the voters.

Note to the Narragansett Indian Tribe: No, we are not discriminating against you by not wanting a casino. Just. Please. Stop. Asking. For. A. Casino. The. People. Have. Aleady. Spoken.

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mod134 Whistle-Stop

mod134

Posted
Posted

I say yes for the casino. We lose a lot of money to annually to the casinos at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. Masssachusetts is in the process of getting some casinos. Are we going to miss the boat again on this? I know Lincoln and Newport already exist and have expanded recently. It is not like Rhode Islanders dont like to gamble - it is a apparent they do by the large sums of money we give to Mohegan and Foxwoods every year. We are a big tourism destination; I think adding a casino would help along with a lot of the development that has occurred in Providence recently, which I am glad to see.

What kind of casino would you support? An Indian casino or a private casino like Harrahs and Ameristar.

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Baines Hamlet

Baines

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I say yes for the casino. We lose a lot of money to annually to the casinos at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. Masssachusetts is in the process of getting some casinos. Are we going to miss the boat again on this? I know Lincoln and Newport already exist and have expanded recently. It is not like Rhode Islanders dont like to gamble - it is a apparent they do by the large sums of money we give to Mohegan and Foxwoods every year. We are a big tourism destination; I think adding a casino would help along with a lot of the development that has occurred in Providence recently, which I am glad to see.

What kind of casino would you support? An Indian casino or a private casino like Harrahs and Ameristar.

Interesting results...I do sense a behavioral/business conservative attitude (not political) and thus approach to RIanders. After looking at the possibilities of creating an economic engine to help fuel PVD; gambling is the easiest and most for the buck - on one very important condition: it is located in PVD.

My vote: Yes..Harrahs

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Johnzo Unincorporated Area

Johnzo

Posted
Posted

Can anyone think of a city with a downtown casino that has prospered with it? If I can find some examples of one, I'd consider saying yes for PVD.

I know Joliet, IL; Gary, IN; and Detroit have them, but those are all economically depressed areas.

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ruchele Hamlet

ruchele

Posted
Posted

I give it a strong "no," but I might get a raft of sh** for my reasons:

I think Providence's uphill battle to get out of entrenched graft and corruption is already tough enough, without introducing more industries that are traditionally mired in the same problems we are trying to escape. We also have more than enough problems with poverty, hoplessness, addiction, etc. in Providence without introducing an industry that is pretty well documented to benefit from/perpetuate those conditions. (I guess we already have that industry, with scratch tickets, Keno, etc, but the less, the better, as far as I am concerned.)

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Cotuit Megalopolis

Cotuit

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Can anyone think of a city with a downtown casino that has prospered with it? If I can find some examples of one, I'd consider saying yes for PVD.

Monte Carlo, and you could I suppose say that Las Vegas has prospered, but would any of us actually want to live there? Montreal has a casino that I can't say has hurt the city, but it's on an island in the river, and as far as I can tell, not the destination type place that Harrah's is looking to build here. I also think the gaming industry is structured very different in Canada than it is here, with more money going to the cities.

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