[TNKY]

What do people in and around Muskegon think about the casino that might be coming to town? A relative of my wife gets very hot under the collar about the very idea. I hear others say how great it will be. What do you think?

Myself, I'm on the fence. With unemployment so high here, could it really be that bad an idea? We're taking about a lot of new jobs. But, even more crime will possibly find its way here to add to what's already too much. As someone who is trying to get a job transfer to Louisville KY or Knoxville TN, I would think having a new casino would make it somewhat easier to sell my house. This area is so bad economically it may not even matter though. Gimme your thoughts.

[eureka1]

The rural county I live in has had SIX casinos built in the last 15 years.The overall prosperity of the county has not improved at all,and one little hamlet which didn't have much going fot it in terms of other businesses had its crime rate increase by 1000% (that's not a typo) with the casino. They demanded (and got) help from the tribe to hire more police. The drunks and crazies from the casino roam the streets breaking into cars when they run out of money. Think long and hard before you go this route. I freely admit, I'm predjudiced against casinos. Goodluck with whatever you decide.

[tuebor]

I'd prefer to see investment dollars go towards something more constructive. Sure, casinos may create jobs, but what kind of jobs, and with what collateral damage to the community? (See eureka1's post, above.) I suppose if Michigan were to legalize prostitution and allow investors to build brothels, that would create jobs too, but I don't think we want to go that route.

[GRRAZO]

I think a casino/resort downtown on the water mixed into the city will draw people there and possibly visitors from accross the lake whcih would create more such as hotels, stores and restraunts there. But something tells me if there was a casino there it woudl be just another cheapo tasteless hyway side one in some township outside of the city aka truck stop.

[windfarmer]

I think gambling causes more problems than it fixes.

Thank you – Tuebor for pointing out that investment dollars should go towards more constructive projects. If people want to throw away their time and hard earned money into slot machines, then go to Las Vegas. Surely this can't be the only way for Michigan or it's cities to pay the bills.

[magellan]

I think it only works if it draws in money from outside of the West Michigan area. If it's just West Michigan dollars, which are stretched thin as it is, then it's not helping grow the economy (and being siphoned off to the casino investors and not put back into the economy). People say it "creates jobs", but it also "takes jobs" away as people in West Michigan divert their disposable income away from other entertainment and retail venues and spend it at a casino. It's basically breaking even if anything, and possibly even a net negative with the purported social and criminal costs.

Now think about what kind of casino would be needed to draw visitors from throughout the Great Lakes or further. Considering that casinos are now prevalent all over Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio and other Great Lakes states, who would go to it? Why would the Muskegon casino be any different?

The only way I see it being any different is if it were right on Muskegon Lake, with boat slips to possibly draw Chicagoland and Wisconsin boaters. And even then, that's a pretty limited market.

[TNKY]

I appreciate your honest opinions. The more I think about it, and read your posts, the more I tend to be a non-supporter of a local casino. I read on another post that casinos in others parts of the state are actually laying off workers due to the lack of profit stemming from less than expected turnouts.

And, as mentioned earlier, how many more casinos can this state handle? Less and less people have disposable income around here anyhow. I can see it now, people gambling their paychecks away and getting their stuff repossessed. If casinos have the capability of increasing crime by 1000%, as eureka1 mentioned, Muskegon could make Detroit look like an afternoon at Chuck E Cheese. Okay, maybe not quite, but things are bad enough here already.

[merit1sje]

It all depends on what you think is good for you and your community. The decisions that people make for themselves and others should be well thought out. Weigh out all the possibilties both pro and con. Casinos do bring in jobs which translates into more money being spent on retail and in other business. On the other hand they may bring in more crime, increased traffic in the area that surrounds them and be a detriment to those who are addicted to the lure of easy money. They could bring in tax revenue for the county, but usually these businesses are given tax breaks. The bottom line is this: Businesses are designed with one purpose in mind. To make money. It makes no difference to the business that it created 2 to 3 hundred new jobs, it sees the potential market for profits which far out weigh the benefits to the community. It's about choice. Make the right one.

[allbusiness]

Very little good has ever come from casinos or gambling. Sorry I'm an old stick in the mud, but you did ask.

[leadsquirter]

They are now building a huge one "The Firekeepers" on I-94 just east of Battle Creek. A new one is planned on US-131, halfway between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. They are popping up like weeds. We don't need anymore in my opinion!