Vermont casino gambling, it’s a zombie of an idea that lives on in good times and bad. Tom Salmon last floated the idea but now Vermont lawmaker Rep.Ron Hubert in a Burlington Free Press article says he too thinks its time to start a conversation about legalizing casino gambling in Vermont.
Despite the fact that more competition and the long recession have driven casino revenues to lows nationally for several years he says:
“I thought there was certainly no harm in getting the conversation started”
Why? Well customers at his market
“…head to the Mohegan Sun and Akwesasne Mohawk casinos in nearby states. They grouse about how Vermont loses out on their businesses [sic] by not having casinos.”
Rep.Hubert has support for this bill from sixteen other reps, most of them are republicans.
Ideas under consideration include floating casinos on Lake Champlain or in trains out of White River Junction.
Casino revenues are down for their fourth straight year in Atlantic City due to competition from neighboring Philadelphia, New York and Delaware. Connecticut casinos laid off 300 workers in the past year to cut costs due to five year drop in gambling.This increased profits for one quarter despite continued low overall revenue. Iowa opened casinos in 2006 and they are suffering stagnant revenues. An attempt by the state of Iowa to increase their tax on casinos is causing threats from casino operators of cutbacks, job losses and ultimately closure of these gambling operations which are heavily in debt.
No harm in getting this conversation started? Here in Vermont the chairwoman of the house committee which received the bill notes worries about casinos may complicate the efforts of the Abenaki to gain tribal recognition.
Tactful permitting! Surprisingly, Hubert sees Vermont’s development and permitting laws, normally maligned by Republicans offering a check on casino development should it be allowed.
“With Vermont’s permit regulations, there should be sufficient constraints to make sure any casino is tactful, he said.
I have two questions (I don’t really understand the issues presented here) and a comment:
First: The biggest concern about casinos is that they are feeling the impact of the recession? Aren’t most businesses feeling that impact? While surely there are examples of struggling casinos, aren’t there also examples of flourishing casinos?
I guess that funnels into this question: If profitability is the main concern about casino gambling in Vermont, couldn’t those concerns be overcome, in part, by looking at what has worked/hasn’t worked for other states, and modeling plans based on that?
Second: What do the Abenaki have to do with this? Could someone explain this to me?
Comment: Even if Republicans “normally” show disdain for VT’s permitting regulations, I think most everyone in Vermont shares the sentiment that the state’s natural beauty is one of our most prized commodities. Is it really that surprising that a Republican would want to see a “tactful” casino?
What about all those folks who come to Vermont because it is not like Anywhere, USA?
I’m sure we can find all sorts of examples of people who feel a need to head elsewhere for specific needs. I would love to find some authentic Italian food, or decent Indian. Maybe the state could promote some ‘tactful’ guidance… and while we are at it, maybe we could do state land casinos with ATV access… and billboards like those heading toward Saratoga or Upstate NY. Maybe we could emulate the Canadian side of Niagara Falls too… tourist traps, strip clubs, and chain fried food joints and all.