Sunday’s column: Casinos in Virginia are a sucker’s bet
Conor Ogle | Wikimedia Commons
As the Virginia General Assembly once again dips its toes into consideration of casino gambling, here’s a little tale that may be worth thinking about.
Johnny’s Hotdogs was a wholesome family joint that had been around for years. Like every other mom-and-pop restaurant, Johnny had bills to pay — to the butcher, the gas company and for the city meals tax.
But Johnny was strapped for cash. His sales were flagging. His profit margin was high, but his customer traffic was low. A lot of his regulars were going to Billy’s Franks across the street.
Billy had three slot machines, which were a big hit with people already foolish enough to eat lots of hot dogs. His place was packed all the time. There were lines at all his machines.
Johnny wasn’t going to stand for that, of course. So he bought six one-armed bandits, which are aptly named. And the customers came flocking back.
But then Johnny noticed a funny thing.
He was selling fewer hotdogs than before he put the machines in. His customers were putting most of their money in the machines, rather than buying hotdogs.
READ THE REST OF THIS COLUMN HERE.
September 9, 2012 - 6:00 AM
Sounds like Johnny`s is in need of some creative marketing.
I agree with part about government keeping casino gambling out. I disagree that government oversight should bleed over into government control in all areas like the liberals want. Nixon’s biggest failure was not Watergate; it was his sucking up to liberals with the environmental restrictions. (We see how they appreciate him for that) The EPA is the biggest thorn in America’s side. It strangles business and individuals with regulation. Before the EPA was formed, and before the Clean Air and Water Acts, were people dying from unclean air and water? No. Were people dying in 2008 before all of 0bama’s environmental shackles? Are people dying now before future restrictions like Cap and Trade?
Think of all the hoaxes we have spent billions on fighting, thanks to the EPA. Alar, radon, ozone depletion, manmade global warming. Same with the health police. I remember when butter was evil. Sugar was evil, salt was evil. Then the replacements became evil; trans-fats, cyclamates, MSG. Gasoline is evil, so let’s add ethanol. Now ethanol is evil.
Again, government can protect its citizens by outlawing evils like abortion, prostitution, drug dealing, and casinos. But on most things, they need to stay the hell out.
Virginia needs as much money as it can get it’s grubby hands on. Tourism would remain in-state without issues, including out of state tourism. Every state has theme parks, yet people continue to flock to Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion. Turning Stone in NY is a great casino as are the ones in Niagra Falls of tourism destinations. The rest of the points are speculative garbage based on hearsay and god forbid the day the government tells us how to spend our discretionary income. Don’t they control us enough? Bring on the casinos, more money for the state. Virginia is for Gamblers.
You are so right Dan. It’s a downward spiral.
In Atlantic City, the casinos double the number of one day junket buses from New York City on the 3rd and 4th of each month. Why? Social Security checks are paid on the 3rd!
Nevertheless, freedom means people can do what they want, even if it’s not so bright. You can’t tell grown-ups what to do with themselves. Eventually the market will saturate, the boom will bust, and it will be small part of permanent society like bars.
“Nevertheless, freedom means people can do what they want, even if it’s not so bright.”
You have the freedom to casino gamble in Virginia right now, Dave Gresham, if you can find an underground casino. For that matter, you can run red lights, too. There may be some consequences, but you can do it.
What there shouldn’t be is public policy that encourages casino gambling. Just because some wolves are howling that the sheep should be unpenned for the sake of “freedom” doesn’t make it so. The wolves have some ulterior motives. They’re howling for their freedom to slaughter the sheep.
I find casino gambling, jsut like laws against abortion, prostitution,drug use, smoking pot, drinking alcoholic beverages, and others I could name (attempts to legislate morality) to be unwarranted intrusions on personal freedom. Laws which make behaviors illegal should be limited behaviors which infringe upon soeone else’s freedom or physical well being.
dave, the wolves often sound noble as they howl the sheep should be set free. And some of sheep listen to their howls.
yes in New Jersey the casinos donate a lot of the money they make to create, safe, rent controlled clean homes for seniors and handicapped people..its a good thing if you arent stupid with your money..its fun too when you win big.
speaking of sheep danny boy, you are one of them.
@#6 Well said Dave!
Dave, as info, Social Security checks no longer go out on the 3rd. 25% go out each Wednesday.
“its fun too when you win big.”
o pammalla, you titan of investment, “winning big” is what built Vegas.
Thanks for the update David. That’s a terrific improvement for the SS checks. (Though, I bet the buses run like crazy every Wednesday and Thursday now.)
ohhhh pamadoodle,@ 8 your ignorance is showing again…
Where do casinos’ gross revenue tax dollars go?
By law, moneys in the Casino Revenue Fund are appropriated exclusively for reductions in property taxes, rentals, telephone, gas, electric, and municipal utilities charges of eligible senior citizens and disabled residents of the State, and for additional or expanded health services or benefits or transportation services or benefits to eligible senior citizens and disabled residents. On or about March 15 and September 15 of each year, the State Treasurer publishes in at least 10 newspapers circulating generally in the State a report accounting for the total revenues received in the Casino Revenue Fund and the specific amounts of money appropriated therefrom for specific expenditures during the preceding six months ending December 31 and June 30. N.J.S.A. 5:12-145c. http://www.nj.gov/casinos/home/faq/#nbr13
I see nothing to support your claim that casino dollars go to “create, safe, rent controlled clean homes for seniors and handicapped people” – you might ask someone from the Garden State how well the casino revenue is doing to reduce their property taxes….and go outside the small casino bubble in Atlantic City…and there are very few “safe, rent controlled clean homes” anywhere to be seen…
dave posing as a libertarian?:
“6.I find casino gambling, jsut like laws against abortion, prostitution,drug use, smoking pot, drinking alcoholic beverages, and others I could name (attempts to legislate morality) to be unwarranted intrusions on personal freedom. Laws which make behaviors illegal should be limited behaviors which infringe upon soeone else’s freedom or physical well being.”
We’re in total agreement on this one. Carrying a gun could fit right into that list too. Just sayin’.
Mitt is doing it again. In Virginia Beach on Saturday, while giving his Pungo, Virginia speech, he said and I quote: “We have fewer ships in our navy now then we had in 1917. I will build the navy back up.” The facts: 12/31/1916. Total ships: 245. (No carriers. by the way.) 12/31/2011. 285. (Including 11 carriers.) Another interesting figure: 09/30/2008. 285 ships. 9/30/2011. 285. How can he sleep at night with so many outright lies. P.S. The number of ships at the start of the Bush Administration: 318.
He and Ryan can’t help themselves. They seem not to be in touch with the truth.
Ron,
Politifact rated Romney’s claim on this one “pants on fire.”
Why not open it to all localities? I’m in favor of casinos in Va, but not until they pass legislation for online gambling. The casinos will just lobby to keep the competition out just like they’re doing in California.
Laws which make behaviors illegal should be limited behaviors which infringe upon soeone else’s freedom or physical well being.
Victims of abortions certainly have their physical well-being infringed upon.
#11 That was a typo, Kristen. I think she meant “whine big.”
Thanks for the column, Dan. Virginia is already hooked on the Lottery. I don’t see the need for (or benefit of) casino gambling
Betting on the Stock Market is legal and can be done in any city in the USA.
Your odds there are worse than playing Blackjack.