Downtown Ottawa Casino - Page 2

kevinbottawa · #21 Posted **Mar 13, 2012, 10:17 PM**

I'm a bit torn on the idea but I was going to say the site of that ugly building at City Centre Drive or Victoria Island (but it's important for the First Nations) would've been nice spots. But after this debate I agree Dow's Lake would be an amazing spot.

Jamaican-Phoenix · #22 Posted **Mar 13, 2012, 10:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ottawan

Fair enough. I was thinking of something tasteful (James Bond-esque casino, not Las Vegas Casino), and certainly not replacing any of the heritage buildings. It could be constructed as part of the replacement tower for the Place de Ville podium, for example.

Okay, something like that would be better.

BlackRedGold · #23 Posted **Mar 13, 2012, 10:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

I hate casinos but it this way: if you are going to build a casino in Ottawa, it has to compete and out-do the casino in Lac Leamy in some way, otherwise don't bother. Its a go big or go home thing. There just isn't room in downtown Ottawa to do that. A dinky little place to play cards, roll dice and pull levers on Sparks Street will look pathetic when they have 50 foot ceilings, live theatre and concerts, a five-star restaurant and a place to dock you mini-yacht across the river. Build it out by SBP, you could pretty well do anything, heck you can bring in the circus if you like.

I agree with a lot of this. Wherever it is, it's going to need a lot of parking to compete with the one in Hull. Putting it right in the downtown core isn't going to allow for this. Besides, putting it right in the core isn't going to draw significantly more people then if it is just outside the core.

But having it by SBP might be a little too far out. Plus it isn't close to any major public transit lines. It would be a good magnet out there and might allow for more restaurants and bar to open in that area.

City Centre would be great since it's close to downtown, public transit, the bridges across the river and the whole area could use significant revitalization. Plus there's lot of room there to build.

MountainView · #24 Posted **Mar 13, 2012, 10:54 PM**

I like the idea of putting it at Dow's Lake, but is there really any room there? NCC/Federal Government are unlikely to give up any land for a casino - and is there room for parking as mentioned?

Who owns the land surrounded by Albert St - Transitway - Booth ? Seems like a Casino could fit there, it's close to the bridges, ORP and downtown. Also looks like a parking structure could be built or underground AND it's right beside transit (future LRT lines)

rodionx · #25 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 12:49 AM**

There's no surer sign that your government is in a fiscal hole and all out of ideas than when it starts thinking casinos are the way to go. Casinos just suck money out of other forms of entertainment spending, and they aren't good for neighbourhoods.

All kind of moot, though, as we already have a casino that's closer to the core than Rideau Carleton. It's called Lac Leamy. Even if the city were ok with building one and found a neighbourhood willing to accept one (doubtful) they'd have a real hard time finding someone to actually build one.

McC · #26 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 1:25 AM**

Since Lac Leamy has the One Big Schmancy Casino angle covered, what if we tried a number of decentralized "boutique" gambling houses with different themes/styles? I was thinking Baseball stadium and Landsdown (and add ScotiabunkPlace, as per Kitchissippi's suggestion) to help balance seasonal demand at those redeveloping locations, and maybe at a new hotel complex near the Airport, perhaps attached to the CE Centre.

reidjr · #27 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 1:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodionx

There's no surer sign that your government is in a fiscal hole and all out of ideas than when it starts thinking casinos are the way to go. Casinos just suck money out of other forms of entertainment spending, and they aren't good for neighbourhoods.

All kind of moot, though, as we already have a casino that's closer to the core than Rideau Carleton. It's called Lac Leamy. Even if the city were ok with building one and found a neighbourhood willing to accept one (doubtful) they'd have a real hard time finding someone to actually build one.

No i don't think they would have a hard time at all finding someone to build it it you would more then likely see a fair amount of interest in groups willing to build it as for neighbourhood what you do is dangle projects say you wanta new central library ok this casino would help us get that or a new music hall etc. Then as a whole you can say this would help our hospital and education etc as money from a casino could be invested right into those things or free university or day care you could clean up the river build the lrt much faster its endless due to the amount of money a casino brings in.

eternallyme · #28 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 2:05 AM**

Keep it out of the downtown, for sure. The more central it is, the higher crime would be for sure, and policing costs would skyrocket.

If a casino has to be built, place it in some isolated location in the suburbs. Something like attach it to Rideau Carleton (let it have gaming tables and an expansion).

MountainView · #29 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 2:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eternallyme

If a casino has to be built, place it in some isolated location in the suburbs. Something like attach it to Rideau Carleton (let it have gaming tables and an expansion).

The suburbs are so boring... If everyone is so against downtown or a central area (which I am not) - then might as well put it beside the CE Centre. It would be centrally located for all of Ottawa, can share that massive parking lot with the CE Centre and tourists will see it when they get off their planes... maybe we can even put up a 'Welcome to Fabulous Ottawa' sign at the Airport Parkway/Uplands Overpass too!

What about the Development around Billings Bridge? Integrate it into that somehow? Put the Casino along the riverfront like Kitchissippi said here: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...7&postcount=28 The Casino would allow restaurants to be viable and would add a nice spark to the southern tip of the main street that Bank Street is!

phil235 · #30 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 3:28 AM**

I think there are some good points made about the availability of gambling online etc. I'm not sure the government should be involved in casinos, but it is true that there are lots of ways to acquire a gambling problem.

As for a downtown location, I'm not convinced that a casino has any real potential to spur development and revitalize an area. The impact of a large casino downtown could be largely negative. But accessibility would be key, so I don't mind the airport idea either. It has a reasonable prospect of good transit service (and may improve airport service in the process) and there is no neighbourhood for it to change for the worse.

kevinbottawa · #31 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 3:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MountainView

If everyone is so against downtown or a central area (which I am not) - then might as well put it beside the CE Centre. It would be centrally located for all of Ottawa, can share that massive parking lot with the CE Centre...

That's not that farfetched. Seeing that Bill Shenkam lives in Monaco now I assume he'd be interested in building a casino in Ottawa. Perhaps he can build an upscale Monaco-type casino instead of your typical North American one. He already owns and operates the CE Centre. Perhaps he'll want to build an ajoining hotel and casino. That could make a nice complex.

Kibb · #32 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 6:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ottawan

Good question. The next logical step of course will be for the provincial government to lobby the feds to legalize marijuana and allow the provinces to regulate and tax it. They could argue that it would pay for full-day kindergarten.

The new LCBO: The Liquor and Canabis Board of Ontario?

I've already pre-written my business plan encase that ever happens.. a marijuana cafe.. shesh talk about a tourist moneymaker in the Market/Elgin area.

reidjr · #33 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 11:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by phil235

I think there are some good points made about the availability of gambling online etc. I'm not sure the government should be involved in casinos, but it is true that there are lots of ways to acquire a gambling problem.

As for a downtown location, I'm not convinced that a casino has any real potential to spur development and revitalize an area. The impact of a large casino downtown could be largely negative. But accessibility would be key, so I don't mind the airport idea either. It has a reasonable prospect of good transit service (and may improve airport service in the process) and there is no neighbourhood for it to change for the worse.

How would it be negative?

McC · #34 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 11:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by reidjr

How would it be negative?

See the example of Windsor, where the casino was billed as a downtown revitalizer. It's not a guarantee that the result would be the same here (different city context and design could learn from their mistakes) but the results there were definitely negative.

reidjr · #35 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 11:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by McC

See the example of Windsor, where the casino was billed as a downtown revitalizer. It's not a guarantee that the result would be the same here (different city context and design could learn from their mistakes) but the results there were definitely negative.

My issue is some in Ottawa say we want better medical care we want a library/concert hall cheap university and day care a casino would help that but people don't want it and would perfer there money go to Quebec for me thats just a bit odd.

eemy · #36 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 12:39 PM**

I'm generally uncomfortable with the idea of easing the tax burden for the population as a whole by taking more money from people who have gambling problems, but I suppose that isn't all that different from the LCBO. I suppose with online gambling so common now, it wouldn't necessarily lead to more gambling. I hope somebody would take the opportunity to study how opening a new casino like that would influence the public's gambling habits, though, to see if that is actually true.

reidjr · #37 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 12:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

I'm generally uncomfortable with the idea of easing the tax burden for the population as a whole by taking more money from people who have gambling problems, but I suppose that isn't all that different from the LCBO. I suppose with online gambling so common now, it wouldn't necessarily lead to more gambling. I hope somebody would take the opportunity to study how opening a new casino like that would influence the public's gambling habits, though, to see if that is actually true.

If you look at the amount of casinos full and mini near Ottawa and yes online gambling i really don't think a casino in downtown would make a difference don't get me wrong it is a issue but the idea that if there is no new Ottawa casinos people won't get into money trouble thats just not true.

Acajack · #38 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 1:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

I'm generally uncomfortable with the idea of easing the tax burden for the population as a whole by taking more money from people who have gambling problems, but I suppose that isn't all that different from the LCBO. I suppose with online gambling so common now, it wouldn't necessarily lead to more gambling. I hope somebody would take the opportunity to study how opening a new casino like that would influence the public's gambling habits, though, to see if that is actually true.

I'd say the main effect of the opening of the Casino de Hull (now Lac Leamy) in Gatineau was the closing down of most of the dedicated bingo halls and a big decline for parish and other community bingos.

Another justification for government casinos is that it helps keep organized crime from controlling the gambling business, though I am not sure how big a problem this is in Canada.

lrt's friend · #39 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 3:16 PM**

I am not a big fan of the government using gambling revenue as a crutch to resolve budgetary issues and I recognize the problems that gambling creates for some people. Nevertheless, we have created a situation where Ottawa's most important tourist attraction is now on the Quebec side and that is draining a lot of money out of the Ontario economy for the benefit of the Quebec government. It is also draining tourist money across the river. It is for this reason that I support a new casino in Ottawa and it should support the tourist and business travel industry. That means that the casino needs to be located within walking distance of the major downtown hotels and the convention centre. This kind of location will also support our LRT plans in promoting transit use during off-peak hours. Parking may be an issue but I support measures that will help build a transit culture in this city, which means placing major attractions downtown and not in some suburban location that is only accessible by car.

jitterbug · #40 Posted **Mar 14, 2012, 3:42 PM**

I read that OLG is interested in relocating the casino to a more central location from its current home at Rideau Carleton Racetrack. Obviously Scotiabank Place -- or anywhere in Kanata -- would not qualify.

As much as the Glebites would hate it (but then, they hate any development) what about the redeveloped Lansdowne Park!? What a great way to bring people into that area year-round. Besides hockey, football and concerts, a casino would complement the movie theatres, restaurants and retail planned for the site.