Casinos Coming to SA? (Houston, San Antonio: restaurants, shops, land)

[AnthonySA]

I'm sorry, I should have probably been a bit more clearer. Most of it is just personal opinion -- I just never saw much desire in typical run of the mill casinos. Unless these casino's are full fledged resorts, I honestly don't see why people would travel here. Even in the world renowned gambling mecca Las Vegas, the large casinos also serve as resorts.

I also don't know if it's just me, but I also think that gambling and Mardi Gras go hand in hand. :P

There are plenty of casinos across the country, what would separate ours from the rest?

[Cookiemeister]

New Orleans did not want the casino but I guess big money and corruption won out. They were very upset with the idea of a casino in their historically significant city. It is a blemish to the locals. I don't think too many people waste their time at the casino when they visit New Orleans. They go to NO for the Quarter, the food, music, old world charm and the historical significance... not a Vegas style casino. I don't think a casino in SA would contribute to anything positive and would also be a blemish on our city. I would rather see SA go in another direction. I would like to see downtown more focused on urban renewal. I think they should focus on the restoration and convertion of older buildings into urban living quarters and creat a downtown that can serve the urbanites. I would like DT to be vibrant and a place that the locals go on weekends and not just the tourist. I think SA cannot decide what they want to be or the people that are deciding just want anything that will bring in more money. Somebody should come up with a plan and theme to overhaul downtown into an urban mecca with living quarters, sidewalk stores, theaters, grocery stores and cafes where the urbanites can live and florish. Downtown could be much more than just another tourist attraction.

[schertz1]

River North should do all of that. I Also think casinos are a terrible ideal but if they are approved I would like to see them between NB and SM. I would also like to see them restricted to that one area by zoning.

[tgannaway89]

Originally Posted by Owl

I love to go to Vegas--not for the gambling; I go because the restaurants are world class, as is the entertainment, and also the shopping.

That is what the casinos and the larger influx of tourists would bring. San Antonio can finally become a world-class city. It could set a great example. With good zoning laws and a strict guidelines set by the city, a new games district could add a new level of entertainment to the Alamo City. We are talking more: venue tax, money, hotels, conventions, fine dining, etc.

[SanAntoQT]

Originally Posted by tgannaway89

That is what the casinos and the larger influx of tourists would bring. San Antonio can finally become a world-class city. It could set a great example. With good zoning laws and a strict guidelines set by the city, a new games district could add a new level of entertainment to the Alamo City. We are talking more: venue tax, money, hotels, conventions, fine dining, etc.

What is all this about a "world class city"? How does being more of a tourist trap make that happen? You emphasize more venue tax, money, etc., but will wages increase for all the hotel workers, waitstaff, convention employees or will more minumum wage (or just barely above) jobs be created?

I can almost see San Antonio becoming another Vegas and getting lost in all the bells and whistles.

[CaTe0508]

Originally Posted by Bowie

Because the lottery would lose money as gamblers switch their habit to casino games from the lottery. The lottery money is politically important because it is being used to prop up funding for the schools, in lieu of funding them properly from taxes.

It's harder to make the case that casino gambling is for the benefit of children, since it creates a culture in which gamblers with families leave home for extended periods of time to gamble the rent money. At least with the lottery, they can gamble their rent money down at the corner store and stay at home with the kids while they watch the lotto numbers on TV.

Wasn't there a recent news story [last week?] about a school somewhere either in San Antonio or nearby that faces possible close-down because they [the school] was short some 2 million dollars on some sort of payment / budget???? Where's their lotto money?

CaTe

[majormadmax]

Why do we need casinos when we have Disney coming?!?

I am no big gambler, I don't play poker and I don't even buy lottery tickets. On the rare occassions that I get to Vegas, I allocate how much money I can afford to lose and if I hit that mark, I quit. However, I have to say I have been lucky as I usually walk away with more money that I started. But there is an old saying that Vegas wasn't built by people winning! Legalized gambling is very lucrative and yes, sometimes it brings unwanted consequences. Those unwanted consequences were very apparent when I used to travel to Vegas while in the USAF; but I have to give that city credit, they realized it was a problem and have transformed that city into a much more family-friendly place than what it used to be.

Many people like to gamble, and all Texas is doing is losing revenue when they go to places like Louisiana, Oklahoma and Nevada to do so. The argument that it will cause people to throw their money away is no more valid than liquor stores causing people to drink. All they are doing now is traveling to other locations to gamble, and Texas is missing out on a great opportunity.

A well-regulated gaming industry could bring a lot to Texas. The lottery is a joke, if it really brought as much money into our education system as it claims the NISD wouldn’t have to have passed over $1.9B in Bond Construction Programs since 1995. According to its web site, since 1997 all Texas Lottery proceeds have been transferred to the Foundation School Fund to support public education in our state. The Texas Lottery claims to have contributed more than $10B to the Foundation School Fund, and of that total, more than $1B was contributed in fiscal year 2007. Has anyone ever seen a breakout of what has been done with all that money? I haven’t…and to be honest I am suspect of those figures.

Keeping gaming revenues at home and stimulating job creation and investment in Texas would bring untold billions in new money to the Lone Star State, and would better fund Texas' public schools. Hell, we invented Texas Hold 'Em; but you can’t even play it here! That in itself is an indication that something just ain’t right…

Cheers! M2

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by schertz1

I Also think casinos are a terrible ideal but if they are approved I would like to see them between NB and SM. I would also like to see them restricted to that one area by zoning.

That would make the idea more palatable. The problem is that the gaming industry has deep enough pockets to prevent a casino from being forced to locate in a sub-optimal location. If they can't sway the local politicians with junkets and huge campaign contributions, they'll file lawsuits in whatever court they think will be most favorable to their position. After all of that wrangling, they'd probably end up with a casino as one of the anchors in the Rivercenter Mall!

Better not to let them in the state in the first place.

[fitmommy]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

Why do we need casinos when we have Disney coming?!?

…

Cheers! M2

I actually heard this awhile back, I thought it was true. I was so excited....Ahhh my dreams have been shot down. I heard it was going up near SM.
I thought it was on good authority. hmmm.

[CamaroGuy]

If casinos do come to Texas they should be run by the state's Indian tribes. There is already one in Eagle Pass run by the Kickapoo tribe.

10 nice casino/resort places spread out over TX would be real nice for sure.:-)