[janette moss]

How will the new casinos (a possibility of one being built where Cobo Hall is) effect the economy in Detroit and Michigan as a whole whether it be good or bad? $800,000,000 (gorgeous casino) is a lot of revenue going into a building, but not building the city (neighborhoods, schools, etc.) What do you think?

[suydam]

Depends on the casino.

I'd say biggies, like MGM in Detroit and Four Winds in New Buffalo attract people from outside Michigan. So they can be a good thing for our economy.

The little tribal casinos (like the one they're planning to build in Gun Lake) generally attract people from the local area to come and spend money. While that's not a bad thing (spending money keeps the economy going, right?) I don't think it does anymore for an area that adding retail (does having a new Hiller's Market improve the economy? not really).

I don't think they truly damage an area though.

Take the Detroit casinos. They're not taking money away from neighborhoods because without the casinos, you've got urban wasteland down there.

I think the Greektown casino is a good example of how a casino can actually help a neighborhood. Last time we stayed there we got voucher dollars to go out and eat in Greektown (outside the casino). That helps small local businesses and got us walking the streets.

[janette moss]

Originally Posted by suydam

Depends on the casino.

I'd say biggies, like MGM in Detroit and Four Winds in New Buffalo attract people from outside Michigan. So they can be a good thing for our economy.

The little tribal casinos (like the one they're planning to build in Gun Lake) generally attract people from the local area to come and spend money. While that's not a bad thing (spending money keeps the economy going, right?) I don't think it does anymore for an area that adding retail (does having a new Hiller's Market improve the economy? not really).

I don't think they truly damage an area though.

Take the Detroit casinos. They're not taking money away from neighborhoods because without the casinos, you've got urban wasteland down there.

I think the Greektown casino is a good example of how a casino can actually help a neighborhood. Last time we stayed there we got voucher dollars to go out and eat in Greektown (outside the casino). That helps small local businesses and got us walking the streets.

You are right -- the casinos don't damage the area and it's not a bad thing. Detroit needs a lot of work in the schools and neighborhoods. The state lottery brings in a lot of money for "public schools", but no one sees the results as far as improving schools or eductation. I wonder how much of the revenue from the casinos go to the city -- do you or anyone know?

[mich2fla]

I don't believe in gambling. I do believe it draws people into the area like at Manistee and at Mt Pleasant.

[joedekock]

Of course casino's are the answer! They take what money people have left, and sometimes more, and put it all in the pocket of the wealthy owner and crooked cops and politicians!

[janette moss]

Originally Posted by joedekock

Of course casino's are the answer! They take what money people have left, and sometimes more, and put it all in the pocket of the wealthy owner and crooked cops and politicians!

Bingo -- the rich get richer and you know the rest!

[MIhome]

Casino's...got them here in vegas,of all places.They seem to spend enough money on school's,quite a bit actually.And the money left over,out here they reinvest it in themselve's,building bigger,adding more job's and creating healthy competition,bluffing their hand's to each other so to speak.So would Michigan's answer be casino's?In it's case ,yes.Let's take into context if you had a few casino's say in the kazoo area,between Detroit and Chicago,What do you think the draw would be?Between two metropolis's,no major city distraction's.Now take that to your advantage,Advertise the get away from the big city,hey go camping,snowmobiling,golf,whatever.Ask how much business does the U.P. do,being in the area it's in?Now how much of that business would be repeat business if it were within a decent driving range.common sense people.common sense.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by MIhome

Casino's...got them here in vegas,of all places.They seem to spend enough money on school's,quite a bit actually.And the money left over,out here they reinvest it in themselve's,building bigger,adding more job's and creating healthy competition,bluffing their hand's to each other so to speak.So would Michigan's answer be casino's?In it's case ,yes.Let's take into context if you had a few casino's say in the kazoo area,between Detroit and Chicago,What do you think the draw would be?Between two metropolis's,no major city distraction's.Now take that to your advantage,Advertise the get away from the big city,hey go camping,snowmobiling,golf,whatever.Ask how much business does the U.P. do,being in the area it's in?Now how much of that business would be repeat business if it were within a decent driving range.common sense people.common sense.

There are already quite a few casinos between Kzoo and Chicago. In fact, a new one just opened in New Buffalo not long ago. There's also one in Michigan City (although that's Indiana).

Casinos only work for Michigan if they pull in dollars from across state lines or from Canada. Otherwise, it's just taking money FROM Michiganders and putting it in the hands of other Michiganders (and outside investors) in the form of fat profits. Robbing Peter to pay Paul.

[deslok]

I remember last year the casinos in Detroit profits were up substantially more last baseball season, due to the Tigers being in the world series. ( I think 75 million in revenue)

[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by janette moss

How will the new casinos (a possibility of one being built where Cobo Hall is) effect the economy in Detroit and Michigan as a whole whether it be good or bad? $800,000,000 (gorgeous casino) is a lot of revenue going into a building, but not building the city (neighborhoods, schools, etc.) What do you think?

If enough casinos go up in Motown, we might be able to make our little state over into Vegas Midwest and we'd actually have some sort of economy again. Even one casino has all kinds of businesses attached to it -- hotels, restaurants, haberdashers, bail bondsmen, armored-car companies, waterparks and zoos for the kids, those places that sell evening gowns, you name it. It would lend itself naturally to making much more of our fantastic shorelines and sporting potential. If this were a serious RESORT state we would really have something going for us.

*momentarily dazzled by vision of the Flying Elvises parachuting off the giant Uniroyal tire*

And there would still be plenty of farmland in the middle to raise corn to make alternative fuels out of, and open territory for those Michigan specialties like paintball ranges and Ted Nugent bowhunting theme parks.

It would be best of all if the casinos were run like Ben & Jerry's, so they made everyone working there, not just 1 person, prosperous and diligent. It would also help keep out the Mob.

I like it!