OIB rewind with commentary update from Ayala and Clemons: The national economy is bleeding. The state economy is bleeding. Municipal budgets are bleeding. State revenues are not meeting projections. It’s time to approach Connecticut’s two tribal gaming interests, make them partners, and reopen the compact that provides the state 25 percent of the slot take.
Connecticut, once the biggest bookie in the country, no longer has a monopoly on northeast gaming. We’re surrounded by state gaming interests at every border, New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. All border states are now in on the action. Why not open up the exclusive gaming compact with Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods–solidified by Governor Lowell Weicker 20 years ago–to appeal to gaming day trippers in southern Connecticut such as Bridgeport and New Haven? Revenues are also down at Mohegan and Foxwoods; that decreases revenue to the state; that drops revenue to Bridgeport.
Winners Shoreline Star in Bridgeport features wagering and live simulcasting of greyhound, thoroughbred and harness racing from all over North America, as well as jai-alai from Florida. It’s already wired for slots as a result of the city’s pursuit of expanded gaming, shot down by the legislature, 18 years ago. What’s the harm in reopening the compact and adding slot revenue in Bridgeport?
State Senator Andres Ayala and State Rep. Don Clemons agree in a commentary:
Connecticut is at a dangerous crossroads. We can choose to do nothing and lose hundreds of millions of dollars in projected revenue for the state from our two casinos, or we can go on the offensive, diversify the industry and get back in the game. Connecticut can easily strengthen its existing gaming industry by allowing the addition of 10,000 slot machines at the three pari-mutuel gaming facilities in Connecticut, where enthusiasts already make wagers on horse and dog races, and by adding additional machines to the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos. This will bring thousands of dollars of gaming revenue into the state, and create new, full-time jobs for Connecticut residents.
In the early 1990s, Connecticut and its taxpayers struck gold when an agreement was reached to allow the Mashantucket Pequot and the Mohegan tribal nations to build two state-of-the-art casinos in our state. Under this arrangement, 25 percent of slot-machine revenue goes directly into the state budget to help pay for things like education, transportation and financial aid to our towns and cities.
Unfortunately, the days of being the only game in town are nearing an end and if we are not careful, our state could lose its edge. Attendance at Connecticut’s two casinos is down and it’s only going to get worse now that neighboring states are expanding into the gaming business.
New York already allows video lottery terminals, a device similar to slot machines, at the Yonkers and Aqueduct racetracks. There are approximately 5,500 video lottery terminals at each facility, generating substantial revenue. Additionally, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has authorized three additional full-sized casinos to be developed in New York. Massachusetts is also considering building three major casinos. This week, the mayor of Springfield awarded the city’s gaming rights to MGM Resorts International. Other proposed sites for resort casinos include the town of Palmer, the greater Boston area, and a site to be determined in the southeast portion of the state. Rhode Island already has slot facilities in Newport and Twin Rivers.
Increased gaming in New York and Massachusetts will be devastating to Connecticut’s casino industry and to the state’s bottom line. We can stop our financial bleeding by giving Connecticut residents more reasons to stay closer to home with greater accessibility to similar-type venues.
This is why it is critical to act now and add 10,000 slot machines at Connecticut’s three pari-mutuel gaming locations. Shoreline Star at Bridgeport, Sports Haven in New Haven and Bradley Teletheater in Windsor Locks are operated by Sportech and along with Foxwoods and Mohegan could easily be outfitted with slot machines at very little expense. Demographic studies done by the Cummings Report have shown that this type of wagering is conducive to attracting “day trip” gaming enthusiasts by providing locations within a short driving distance of their homes. Connecticut has a strong potential for day-trip gaming, which has not yet been capitalized on. By introducing these new slot machines, Connecticut will retain its place in gaming with a projected excess of $200 million a year in new revenue. As many as 3,000 new full-time jobs, employing Connecticut workers, would be directly created by these facilities, in addition to the economic growth the expanded gaming will bring to surrounding regions.
Plain and simple, more options means more revenue for the state, more jobs for thousands of people still looking for work and brighter days ahead.
How! If we could get the tribes to expand the slot compact at Winners Shoreline it could help the Park City become the “Shore Thing!”
Grin, do you have to go deep for these one liners or do they just kind of roll off your tongue? BTW OIBonics is still mine!!! Giggle.
Zenu Lu, how about the radio station, “WE BE 108?”
I’m up for a role on “Mad Men!”
Grin needs to rip open his meds. Too much time at Toots Shores.
I hear he had a great Joint!
As for the one liners … The jury is still out if they’re funny … When they’re recycled they just lose a little.
Speaking of Shore Things … How did you make out at the Jersey Shore? Speaking of recycling … You need to replant the Sea Grass at your beach.
I hear the jury just came in and it was Hung.
The below referenced links present a compelling case for expansion of the slot compact. They clearly illustrate the declining revenues as increased competition circle their wagons around Connecticut.
www .ct.gov/dcp/lib/dcp/pdf/gaming/fosltweb.pdf
www .ct.gov/dcp/lib/dcp/pdf/gaming/mosltweb.pdf
jonathanpelto.com/tag/slots-revenue/
The Pelto article from 01/2012 presents an interesting narrative of how the towns and municipalities have been getting scalped by our own State of Connecticut.
A solution for expansion of the slot compact could incorporate extra revenues for tax disparate cities for property tax relief.
The Mayor and his delegation should jump on this issue because the less money going to the state results in lesser revenue to Bridgeport.
I believe Representative Santiago is a member of the GAE committee that controls any state expansion of the compact if the Native-American Tribes will agree to any proposal.
Do we know where the good Representative stands on this issue? Any issue?
C’mon guys, don’t you know the new metric for successful inner city development is the number of rod and gun shops you can attract?
Bass Pro Shops may be the mayor’s stealth answer to Bridgeport’s educational and cultural shortcomings:
i.imgur.com/wnqQV.jpg
and they often incorporate a shooting range on the premises to help folks correct any bad habits
www .browardpalmbeach.com/bestof/2008/award/best-shooting-range-520676/
Gee indices, Bridgeport won’t have any trouble finding people who can shoot, or fire at any rate.
I don’t think bringing slots here or any other gambling that would take away the $300 million in Indian revenue is the answer.
Other than Las Vegas I don’t see where gambling has made any city wealthy. In this economy even Vegas is hurting and has an unemployment rate of 14%.
One way to save the citizens of Connecticut money is to have the legislature put a moratorium on passing any new laws that require cities and towns to come up with the money to fund these new laws.
This difficult economy has resulted in a dramatic reduction in slot revenues to the state. New casinos will be opening in Rhode Island and Mass in the very near future.
It takes two to tango. I doubt seriously CT’s two Indian tribes would want to reopen that compact and allow more competition for those slot dollars within CT. The Czef family is patiently waiting for the Steelpointe harbor development. They have a great piece of property with a placeholder in place for now.
Mr. Fardy and countdown, I think you misunderstand the issue and solution Lennie has presented regarding amending the Compact.
countdown, it’s about including the tribal nations, not excluding them, in down-state expansion. Are you referring to the Zeff family?
*** What’s up with WICC Radio 60 and the CT Post and all the pro-bias vibes with the Bpt Mayor’s Office in general? Are they both out of touch with what’s actually happening in the Park City or is it just they like drinking the Kool-Aid? Pay attention to either the local broadcast or the Post editorials lately whenever city government items come up! Or is it just me? *** ZOMBIELAND KOOL-AID ***
Mojo, a lot of people noticed what you said and think the same thing as you. Hey, they want to keep the door open so they can get that contract.
Ayala is outdoing himself. Mixed martial arts and now slots. Great legacy in the making …
If we cannot build a first-rate casino on Steelepointe, and we cannot, having slots is just a silly way to have gambling addicts and welfare recipients waste money. Enough of this redundant crap already. Do something creative at the State. Slot machines is a tired attempt at a tired prospect of bringing money to the city. It will fail.
*** MORE WAYS TO PART WITH VOTERS’ MONEY, NO? ***