Excellent Editorial on Anti-Florida Casinos...

[Miller77]

Editorial: Florida would be the loser with casinos | jacksonville.com

Wow, this guys really does not want Mega Casinos in Florida... He does bring up a lot of valid points. It looks like three referendums since 1978 have been rejected.

What's your take on this Steve?

CM

[SteveBourieOLD]

Re: Excellent Editorial on Anti-Florida Casinos...

The arguments in that editorial are always tossed around whenever someone is anti-casino.

The problem in Florida is that it is really like two different states combined.

The northern part is very conserative and the southern part, specifically, Miami-Dade and Broward (home of Fort Lauderdale) counties, is much more liberal.

Also Disney (which is extremely powerful in Florida) is vehemently opposed to casinos. Of course, they have a financial interest in the outcome because if people come to south Florida and decide to go to a casino here rather than go up to Disney, it could cause them to lose visitors.

So, although Disney and many other companies will use the excuse of wanting to keep Florida "family friendly," the bottom line is they don't want to lose business to casinos.

Also, as stated in that editorial, those same companies will argue "if other experiences are an indication, casinogoers would spend virtually all of their money onsite for food, lodging, entertainment and gambling, with little going to surrounding businesses."

Well, if you go along with that line of reasoning, then the biggest offender in that area would be Disney since they do everything in their power to keep people on their property to spend money there.

Personally, I have lived in south Florida for more than 40 years and I think casinos should be legalized. I think it would just add one more option for people to have when considering a vacation in south Florida.

If people don't want to go to a casino it won't bother them at all. Yet, if someone wants to go, then the option is there for them.

The only suggestions I would have concerning the casinos are 1 - that they not be so big that they cause traffic tie-ups. We have too many problems with traffic now. and 2- a percentage of the casino revenues should be devoted to help fund problem gambling programs.

Florida has lots of gambling, but no state funds are set aside to help problem gamblers. It is a proven fact that when you have gambling there will always be a small percentage of people who will become addicted to it.

If the companies that cause these problems are going to be making lots of money then they should be forced to set aside some profits to help the people who are adversely affected by their industry.

[Miller77]

Re: Excellent Editorial on Anti-Florida Casinos...

Excellent point of view, Steve...

I never even thought of Disney and the power that they have.

I agree that a percentage of the monies brought in from Casinos contribute and fund Problem Gambling. In British Columbia, all of our casinos are Crown Corporations run by the government and bring in just over $1 Billion a year. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is responsible for running, setting policies and procedures and setting table limits and what types of machines are allowed and the set the payback percentages (currently at 92%).

They have an excellent "self-exclusion" program in place, for those that feel gambling is a problem for them. Patrons can sign up for 6 months, 1, 2 or 3 years. Casino Security and Surveillance familiarize themselves with those who are self-excluded. When such a person is observed on the gaming floor, they are asked to leave. Casinos have even gone as far as installing cameras at parkade entrances that take a picture of the vehicle pulling it. Those persons are then stopped by Security at the door, denying them entry.

In addition, funds earned by the casinos are also set aside for health care, edcation and assist various charities.

Great reply Steve... thanks for your thoughts.

CM

[Miller77]

Re: Excellent Editorial on Anti-Florida Casinos...

Looks like the voters are divided over Vegas Style Gaming...

Miami-Dade Voters Divided Over Vegas Style Casino Gambling

CM