Casinos in Cities: Good or Bad (Cleveland: hotel, house, movie theater)

[Cleverfield]

Cleveland, and several other Ohio cities are opening casinos very soon (Cleveland's is opening on Monday). On the one hand, these casinos create jobs, bring in tourists, and generate tax revenue for the city and state. But on the other hand, they draw money away from people that live in the city, giving them nothing but a few hours of entertainment in return. Many of the people gambling at the casinos will undoubtedly be poor, and some will be addicts. So I don't know if I think casinos are really good for cities in the end or not. What do you all, especially those who live in cities that already have casinos, think.

[IAm_FloridaBorn]

Well I live in a city that doesnt have them and hope to keep them away. They seem to hurt cities in the long run.

[Natural510]

I know they expect a boom from them in Ohio's cities, and in a way have helped redevelop struggling cities such as Detroit, but I have to agree it's not exactly the healthiest vice to build around. I know locals were tired of seeing their money leave the state for those who like to gamble in Indiana and on riverboats, but I think it will just make a bad problem worse for much of the state's working-class.

[animatedmartian]

They also draw money directly away from Detroit.

Ohio's new casinos could cost cash-strapped Detroit $30 million a year, analysis predicts | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Casinos are not good to base your city's budget on. Especially when the city still went into a financial crisis a few years after the casinos were built.

Casinos are okay if your city can manage without them (the extra revenue never hurts), but too many people see it as the one-all solution to a city's financial problem when in reality it's like using a bucket to save a sinking ship.

[Cleveland_Collector]

Originally Posted by Natural510

I know they expect a boom from them in Ohio's cities

I don't think most people expect a boom from any of them. Most people view them as another "entertainment" piece to the overall puzzle. People want entertainment options whether they be clubs, bars, music venues, sporting events, casinos, etc. Well, here is another option. As long as they keep the establishments high-end and well policed, there will be a desire for people with disposable income to go to them.

And, besides, why shouldn't Ohio cash in on what neighboring states already have? People hate paying taxes but they love throwing their money into slot machines. Well, they can now do that in Ohio too.

[costello_musicman]

Originally Posted by Cleveland_Collector

I don't think most people expect a boom from any of them. Most people view them as another "entertainment" piece to the overall puzzle. People want entertainment options whether they be clubs, bars, music venues, sporting events, casinos, etc. Well, here is another option. As long as they keep the establishments high-end and well policed, there will be a desire for people with disposable income to go to them.

And, besides, why shouldn't Ohio cash in on what neighboring states already have? People hate paying taxes but they love throwing their money into slot machines. Well, they can now do that in Ohio too.

Agreed. I see Cleveland's Casino as another entertainment option for visitors and downtown patrons. I don't think anyone has expected it to be a "silver bullet" type project.

Downtown Cleveland already has Playhouse Square, Progressive Field, Q Arena, Browns Stadium, Rock and Roll HOF, House of Blues (concerts), comedy clubs, Cleveland Aquarium, Great Lakes Science Center/IMAX movie theater, Tower City and Tower city cinemas...restaurants, bars, strip clubs, etc

Luckily for Cleveland, the Casino is located directly in the center of Downtown...meaning walking distance from all the other establishments listed above. IMO, only the Cleveland casino will have the most economic spill over since the other three casinos are a sea of parking lot (please correct me if I'm wrong?).

We all expect gambling addiction and other negatives to occur, but overall I see this as a plus for Downtown (including upcoming conventions and events). It ties nicely into the urban fabric, and will mess well with the new convention center and hotel construction.

[costello_musicman]

Pics of the truly urban casino: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,26324.0.html

There's definitely an injection of new life happening because of it.

Also, new security positions have been hired in and around the casino for immediate security: Cleveland police chief outlines casino security plan | cleveland.com

[CinciFan]

I agree with you guys. I see our casino as just another form of entertainment and another reason for people to visit.

By the way, Cincy's casino is also in downtown, but it's not in a cool old building like Cleveland's. Downtown and Pendleton should benefit greatly from it.

[Cleverfield]

I think most people will see it as just another entertainment option, but for a small minority, especially the poor and uneducated, it will be a damaging vice. Many people don't understand how casinos work, and believe that they can easily get rich. Those are the same people who don't have a good education, or good jobs, and can least afford to lose the money. Maybe they should charge entrance fees to keep the poor away from the casino, for their own benefit...

[Cleveland_Collector]

Just because someone is poor or uneducated, it doesn't make them stupid or destitute. I'd even venture to bet that, on the whole, inner-city people have a much better grip of the grift and the shell game than the typical suburbanite. Damaging vices are everywhere and nobody is immune. Prohibition generally makes any existing problems worse because, as 'they' say, "where there's a will there's a way." Also, casinos already have entrance fees... they're called "minimum bets."