New casino?

[mattgrande]

If OLG turns a profit, where does that money go?

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by mattgrande

If OLG turns a profit, where does that money go?

General revenues of the province for the most part. But some of it is targeted for certain programs.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Suppose to finally see casino's proposal soon

http://www.thespec.com/opinion/colum...iting-in-wings

Apparently one of the interested group is narrowed down to MGM, Wynn, Ceasers or Las Vegas Sands.

Those are the groups who have expressed an interest in building a Toronto casino, not Hamilton.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by coalminecanary

According to the OLG, income from american gamblers has dropped almost 90%

They are adamant "There WILL be a casino in the GTA, even if Toronto says no to one". There is already one in Niagara.

so.... where are these gambling tourists supposed to be coming from? Winnipeg? Grimsby?

For every 4 million in slots revenue that Hamilton keeps, 80 million is funneled to the olg, who will share some percentage with a US based private operator. I'm not sure if we know that percentage, but that's basically turning around the casino model that was built on taking american money. Now we'll be giving it to them.

This is supposed to help the ontario economy how exactly?

Ya this is a great idea.

The income has dropped from the American customers because they have built their own casino's and are doing a better job running them than the ones here. They know how to treat their customers well.

I go to casino's frequently, I play nickel slots. I rarely go to casino's in Ontario. I go to Seneca casino in Niagara Falls NY. The reason for that is that I get more freebies there than I do here. I never take more than $200 and for that I get free food, $75 per week, free play $100 per week and 2 nights accomodation per week free in a hotel that makes any hotel in this city look like a fleabag. I also get free drinks, alcohol as well and can smoke anywhere I want in the facility

I used to go to Flamboro and the most I ever got from them is $10 in free play and that was a one time only. Their restaurant closes at 11 pm and trying to get a free meal out of them is like pulling teeth. The smoking area they have outside has heaters but they are rarely on and forget about getting a free alcoholic drink. In a nutshell, the OLG casino's here suck. Fallsview in Niagara Falls is a little better but nowhere near what you get at the American casino's.

The Seneca nation has just opened another casino in downtown Buffalo and I am getting freebies from them as well and I have never even been there.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by bigguy1231

Those are the groups who have expressed an interest in building a Toronto casino, not Hamilton.

And one of those group mentioned is interested in having a casino in Hamilton.

[coalminecanary]

OLG wants casino operators that have experience operating casinos. That pretty much means American companies.

There is no way, mathematically, for this to benefit any of us.

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

And one of those group mentioned is interested in having a casino in Hamilton.

Possibly in anticipation of the second wave of Gaming Bundles.

[thistleclub]

On Monday, the OLG offered another brief glimpse into its planned revitalization of charitable gaming centres:

"By developing and introducing new products and technologies that will invigorate the traditional charitable gaming experience, more money will be generated for thousands of local charities across the province. The revitalization initiative is intended to preserve and enhance funding for charities across Ontario while creating economic benefits, including employment opportunities, at local charitable gaming centres.

OLG introduced a pilot program in 2005 to test electronic versions of existing paper-based bingo games to six charity bingo centres in five communities in Ontario. These pilot centres in Barrie, Kingston, Peterborough, Sudbury and Windsor have since raised $43 Million for local charities.

Following the success of this pilot project, OLG is beginning a phased rollout of a new suite of electronic games to other charitable gaming sites in the province. This new breed of charitable games will offer customers more choice and complement existing paper bingo games. Offerings will include:

•Electronic Bingo: Electronic Bingo Centres offer terminals with touch screens that allow players to touch the screen to dab the numbers and play along.
•Play On Demand (POD): A collection of electronic games that can be played anytime, with great prizes to be won.
•Break Open Ticket dispenser: The evolution of the classic Break Open Ticket features an interactive display screen on a ticket dispenser.

The new games will allow Charitable Gaming Centres to offer more customer choice, be more competitive and appeal to a broader demographic, while providing a new gaming entertainment experience from traditional bingo and casinos."

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by coalminecanary

OLG wants casino operators that have experience operating casinos. That pretty much means American companies.

There is no way, mathematically, for this to benefit any of us.

Property taxes and the city's cut of the gaming revenue will benefit us.

[coalminecanary]

There is no PROFIT being generated.

For us to get 5 million back every year, that means over 80 million is going up to the OLG, which they will share with a US firm.

Since there is very minimal tourism potential, this money is coming from our own citizens.

The OLG mandate is to increase the number of gamblers in the province by 5%. that's 600,000 people. That means 600,000 people who used to not gamble.

Every community that gets a casino will see more people spending more at the casino. It will funnel money out of the community and up to the OLG, and then the OLG is going to funnel part of it to the american operators. All of the operating expenses have to be paid and the leftovers will go to the charitable causes.

This is a terrible deal on every level - a final cry for a dying province and a dying city.

[realcity]

about 500 direct jobs.

A dealer can make $300 in tips a shift, plus unionized OLG job that pays about $40k, with training flexible hours and safe work environment.

About $500-1million in property taxes

About $5-7million in slots revenue


Who cares if people spent their money, it's entertainment. After I see a performance at Theatre Aquarius if I'm not happy with the performance I'm not lining up to get a refund. That's the price you pay for entertainment. Gambling is fun form of entertainment for most people. sometimes you win sometimes you lose.

Me and a friend are season ticket owners for 5 years at Theatre Aquarius, I haven't always enjoyed every performance, and I never see any spin-offs other than parking revenue from that theatre. Does that mean the theatre just sucks peoples money out and funnels it into out of town coffers and the people don't patronize anything local. That's right!!! The restaurant across the street couldn't make it with a theatre that has 70 performances a year. Shame on the theatre industry for taking poor irresponsible people's entertainment money. They gamble every time if the performance will be enjoyable for them. Then they get back in the cars from the adjacent parking lots and drive back to Burlington and Ancaster.

Relax anti CaniNO!. The socialist cafes and art crawls will continue to prosper even with a casino. It's just another destination for downtown... for a different type of patron. Perhaps this is more of question that the downtown socialist activists don't want a certain type of person in their own little fiefdom they are creating with McHattie, Farr, Horwath, Cristopherson, School Trustees and the posers trying to create... rather they already have created... their own little NDP, socialist, lefty wing nut haven and don't want anyone from the suburbs with opposing perspectives visiting their little downtown neighbourhood. That's called NIMBYism and Elitism.

[coalminecanary]

If theatre aquarius sent 95% of their revenue to the province, who then funneled 20% of that to a US firm, then your comparison would be apt. And if musicals were addictive that would help with the metaphor too.

OLG promised a 5-10% increase in slots revenue. That brings the 4.4 million up to 4.62-4.84 million. I'm not sure where you are getting your 7 million figure from - link me to the data if I'm wrong. Plus a million in property tax brings it to 6 total. That's 3/5 of one percent of our annual budget. Even giving you your 7 million, it's only 4/5 of a percent.

If you are going to bring up the jobs then you have to count the jobs lost at flamborough. I await your data.

You can have your completely off-topic socialism rant if it makes you happy, but it's irrelevant. This is about money. A casino is going to cost us all, both municipally and provincially. The math is simple. 85 million local dollars go into the facility every year. 80 million goes to the olg and 15-20 million of that goes to MGM or Harrah or whoever. 5 million comes back to us. Where the money comes from DOES MATTER.

We have little control over what the OLG does at the provincial level, but we have the power to save ourselves from this money vacuum municipally. You have to look at the big picture and get past the flashy lights and bells.

If we must have a casino, we should put it at flamboro downs. We would lose 10-15% of the slot revenue. The difference in kickbacks would be under a million.

[SteelTown]

Developer Mercanti wants to address council on Hamilton casino plan

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...on-casino-plan

Businessman PJ Mercanti is asking to speak to councillors at a future meeting to discuss his proposal for a casino.

The delegation will include business leaders, developers, education professionals and an executive from the gaming company.

As well as a casino, Mercanti says his proposed facility could include a hotel, gaming, a restaurant, night life, live shows, luxury retail and a museum.

[SteelTown]

Will be revealed on Feb 6 during the General Issues Committee.

[SteelTown]

Bratina said Carmen's has submitted an application (assuming a site plan) to build a new casino complex.

[matt602]

Interesting how all of this is taking shape before a decision has even been made whether the casino will be downtown or not. Rather presumptuous...

[SteelTown]

Hamilton businessman submits casino proposal

http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/stor...asino-gic.html

A local businessman has submitted a proposal to the city for a casino in Hamilton.

PJ Mercanti, co-owner of Carmen’s Group, has requested to speak in front of the city’s general issues committee in February.

According to Mercanti’s request, a “group of Hamilton business leaders, developers and education professionals, as well as an executive from a respected entertainment company” are involved in the proposal.

The proposed facility, the request suggests, “could possibly include hotel amenities, gaming entertainment, multiple dining options, nightlife experiences, live shows, luxury retail offerings and museum attractions.”

Tim McCabe, general manager of the city’s department of planning and economic development, told councillors that Carmen’s had been discussing a proposal, which has yet been made public.

The city has until March 1 to tell the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission whether it wants a gaming facility, and if it does, where it could be located.

Ward 9 councillor Brad Clark expressed his concern that council would have too little time to consider the merits of the proposal. He also asked his fellow councillors and city staff whether any of them had spoken to any applicant about conditions that council has discussed for approving a downtown casino.

No one replied that they had.

Ward 12 Councillor Lloyd Ferguson said he was frustrated about not knowing how many slots and tables have been proposed for a downtown casino, and particularly, how much revenue city coffers would take in from the facility.

“It's The Price is Right," he said, invoking the long-running game show. "We need to know the number."

The Las Vegas Sands Corporation is one of several casino operators that expressed interest in operating a Toronto gaming facility. When contacted by CBC Hamilton on Monday, the company said it's still looking at specific locations for possible casinos.

“What we can say is we've been looking at Ontario from a portfolio approach in terms of the possibility of acquiring a municipal licence,” he said. “Hamilton is one of 25 licences in play.”

MGM Grand International is also interested in Toronto. As for Hamilton, “Right now, MGM is focused on a Toronto casino,” said Alan Feldman, senior vice-president of public affairs, in an email.

[drpgq]

Anyone know where you can get the NoCasino signs?

[markbarbera]

Anyone know where I can get a YesCasino sign?

[drpgq]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

Anyone know where I can get a YesCasino sign?

Doesn't seem like they're making those funnily.