Aug 19 2009
For a recsssion, y'all have a lot of disposable income:
"The casino's first eight days of operations produced one big haul, generating
$6.5 million in gross terminal revenue on $73.7 million in wagering. Of the $6.5 million, 55 percent, or $3.6 million, went
to the state in taxes. About $2.2 million of that will go for property tax
relief. The casino kept $2.9 million."
... Rivers bends on its steep game-day parking fee:
"Gamblers no longer will have to wager at least $80 to get free parking in the
Rivers Casino garage during Steeler game days. Now customers who gamble any amount of money will receive free parking at the
garage during football games. During Thursday's preseason game, players had to
wager at least $80 at slot machines in order to get free parking and avoid a $50
fee. The casino also has decided to drop the garage fee on Steeler game days
from $50 to $20 for those fans who don't gamble."
... Day One:
Three hours until the ribbon cutting. Mr. Fasulo is
meeting with his senior staff, about 20 men and women, in a second-floor
conference room. On the agenda: logistics, scheduling, and nagging computer
troubles.
"Is it us, or is it Konami?" he asks. At last week's
test run, the casino's tech and finance teams discovered that some of the slot
machines weren't properly recording the wagers. Thousands of dollars
"disappear," meaning the money isn't showing up on slots machine audits.
Dispatches from the border
Like a broken record, this item:
"Atlantic City casino profits took a dive in
the second quarter of 2009, as the resort's gaming halls earned
19.8 percent less than the prior year, according to figures
released today by the state Casino Control Commission. Gross operating profits totaled $198.4 million for April to
June, down from $247.3 million collected in the same three-month period in
2008."
... High stakes in Delaware: "While officials of Delaware's three horse-track-based casinos say they
have spent a combined $12 million upgrading their facilities, the
cash-strapped state government has racked up tens of thousands on
outside lawyers to fight a fierce legal challenge by the major sports
leagues and the NCAA."
... In Ohio, they've settled on wording for the casino referendum, to be placed on the ballot this November.The "proposed constitutional
amendment that would allow full-scale casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo."
Aug 07 2009
Five years, one month and two days after Gov. Ed Rendell signed Act 71 of 2004, otherwise known as the Gaming Act, Pittsburgh's casino, The Rivers, is about to become a reality.
It's been a long road. Act 71 was preceded by a decade of riverboat gambling talk. (Never happened.) Then came the passage of the law. (Took forever.) Then came the three-way race for a casino in Pittsburgh. (Also took forever). Then the "fix was in" for Harrah's and Forrest City. (Said Mayor Murphy.) Then came all those noisome Penguins fans in support of Isle of Capri. (Like Mark Madden). Then Don Barden and the Majestic Star somehow won the casino license. (Whoa!) Then there were a bunch of appeals and lawsuits from The Riverlife Task Force, the Steelers and Pirates, and the losing casino bidders. (Bummer.) Then there was concern Don Barden couldn't build his casino on time, and then there was concern -- well founded, it turned out -- that he couldn't build it at all. (Whoops.) Then Neil Bluhm saved the day. (Yay!)
... Guide to coverage: The P-G's Mark belko will have a story in Sunday's paper, telling us everything we need to know about slot machines. On Monday, expect a story about opening day, as well as a behind-the-scenes profile of the casino's general manager, Ed Fasulo.
... If you go: Expect lots of traffic on day one. Doors open at noon. Free concert at 8:30 p.m. Fireworks to follow.
And be sure to visit post-gazette.com on Sunday and Monday for updates, photos and videos.
... this week was "crushing" for Don Barden. He got to see his casino open -- but it was no longer his:
"As Mr. Barden stood outside the casino's main entrance
yesterday, he said the day was "crushing in a sense emotionally." But he added
he took pride in seeing the casino completed largely in accordance with his
vision. 'I promised first class and that's what people got,' he
said."
... the casino's 93-person security force will be watching you if you show up this Sunday.
... The Rivers thinks it can take in $400 million in year one.
... The casino foes from No Dice Pa (who plan to stage a protest / press conference outside the casino on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.) say "we told you so":
"We said the promises of property tax "relief" were unrealistic. Five years
later, my tax bill hasn't gone down. Gov. Ed Rendell boasts of reducing tax
bills by an average of $200 while seeking to raise the income tax by an average
of $250 per household. A shell game, perhaps, but not relief ... Enjoy your favorite Downtown or North Shore eatery or watering hole now. Many of
them will close in the next few years, unable to compete with the Rivers
Casino's glitz and discounted food and drinks."
Odd and ends
A computer hacker (and a former Mt. Airy Casino employee) tries to break into a casino computer ... The Donald squares off against his bondholders ... Pennsylvania's daily slots revenue exceeded $3 million in July ... It's getting heated in Ohio again ... Same is true in Baltimore, where they want to build a casino ... Same is true in New England.