  Fjw718 Member Username: Fjw718 Post Number: 53 Registered: 11-2005 |
Just another reason why a citywide/statewide smoking ban would be a silly idea. Majority of gamblers would rather gamble in detroit.... "Revenues for the MGM Grand Detroit Casino were up by 14.93% from last year. Motor City Casino revenues were up by 12.75% and Greektown Casino revenues were up 13.70% from last year." http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll /article?AID=/20061010/NEWS99/ 61010027 nb- i dont smoke, and i find it gross | ||
Docmo Member Username: Docmo Post Number: 123 Registered: 10-2005 |
Well, at least the non-smoking employees at Windsor Casino will outlive their colleagues in the Detroit casinos. | ||
Chub Member Username: Chub Post Number: 395 Registered: 11-2003 |
Word. | ||
Fjw718 Member Username: Fjw718 Post Number: 54 Registered: 11-2005 |
true, and you could also argue that the health care costs to the state to treat the smokers is more substantial than the short term income made from the rise in collected taxes. | ||
Wilus1mj Member Username: Wilus1mj Post Number: 127 Registered: 05-2005 |
They should have worked with Detroit to put a smoking into effect at the same time. | ||
Johnnny5 Member Username: Johnnny5 Post Number: 379 Registered: 06-2005 |
I bet the long border crossings, unfavorable exchange rate (at least as compared to years past) and the talk of passport requirements have had a larger impact than the smoking ban. That and the article mentions that revenues have increased, not the number of gamblers. The reduction in table games in favor of highly profitable slot machines has probably made a difference as well. | ||
Miketoronto Member Username: Miketoronto Post Number: 322 Registered: 07-2004 |
I will keep the smoking ban thank you. The smoking ban is amazing. You can go to clubs in Ontario and actually dance without getting full of smoke. Every place that has put in a smoking ban has survived, and is doing great. Toronto predicted death also. Well things are more packed then ever. Smoking ban makes sense. | ||
_sj_ Member Username: _sj_ Post Number: 1538 Registered: 12-2003 |
How do you know they are doing great, just becuase a bar has a shit load of people doesn't mean shit. | ||
Miketoronto Member Username: Miketoronto Post Number: 323 Registered: 07-2004 |
Because they admit business is not bad. All the fears have not come true. People are still going to go out. And smokers are not that big of the population anyway. Ban the smoking. People will survive. | ||
Gambling_man Member Username: Gambling_man Post Number: 873 Registered: 11-2003 |
Stop trying to run every portion of my life...........freedom rings. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 849 Registered: 01-2005 |
It just amazes me how liberals are adamant to make smoking tobacco illegal, and in the next breath do all they can to make maryjane legal. | ||
Goat Member Username: Goat Post Number: 8880 Registered: 10-2003 |
"They" are the pussies in T.O. who don't have to cater to same day border crossings. This smoking ban sure did help out the bingos (who in turn gave a shit load of money to many charities throughout the Windsor area)didn't it? Likewise for the charities as mentioned... Typical of the liberals in T.O. pandering to the votes in said city. I'm with Gambling_man. Get out of my PERSONAL life! If they (liberal party of ontario) wanted to stop people from smoking then take away the fucking cigarettes. But of course those greedy pricks know how much revenue thay rake in on the taxes don't they? But I forgot about my $900.00 tax "contribution". Edited for addendum. (Message edited by GOAT on October 10, 2006) | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 559 Registered: 09-2005 |
Ray, smoking tobacco is not illegal. Smoking tobacco in a public confined space where there are other people is illegal. I am sure if pot was ever legalized in Canada (or portions of the United States) that the same rules would apply. | ||
Blitz Member Username: Blitz Post Number: 201 Registered: 09-2004 |
The smoking ban is just another punch in the face to Windsor. It has definitely hurt the city. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2924 Registered: 08-2004 |
Well there is a difference between Toronto's situation and Windsor's... If you live in Toronto and you want to smoke at a bar, then you need to drive all the way to Niagra Falls NY (or thereabouts) to get to a bar that allows smoking. In Windsor, all you have to do is cross over into Detroit, or if you originate in the USA, you just stay here. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 4554 Registered: 10-2003 |
What a strange way to spin this. The gaming board only conjectured, and I would say that it's quite a reach to say that because Detroit revenues were up that must mean it was because of a smoking ban, and then not provide any facts. Are people really just going to eat this news blurb up because it's what they want to hear? I guess it a = b, and b = c, then c must = z, right? lol | ||
Fastcarsfreedom Member Username: Fastcarsfreedom Post Number: 69 Registered: 11-2005 |
It is partly spin, and partly fact. The revenue numbers at Casino Windsor were down in the months following the ban--but not an amount equivilent to the increases reported at the competing Detroit-based properties. There are a whole host of reasons why it has become more difficult for CW to lure customers across to Windsor, the smoking ban is only part of the story. There are also (or were) increased gas prices, the perception (false) of severe border-crossing hassles and the reduction in the favorable currency exchange rate. CW has also been in the midst of a half-billion dollar renovation and expansion that has left some areas around the exterior and interior of the building in varying states of construction/destruction. As the newly renovated gaming areas have reopened there is no question some of the patronage scared off by the construction have begun to return--and if you haven't seen the changes, they are akin to being in an entirely new casino--it's remarkable. It is also of note that in spite of all of this CW is fairly regional in it's marketing--that is, it markets itself as agressively in Ohio as it does in Michigan--and Windsor itself as a draw brings in weekend business from further afield--IN, IL, KY, etc. I personally am opposed to nanny-laws--the libertarian in me abhors that the freedom of businesses and people to choose smoking v. non-smoking has been taken away. In the long run though, this is happening everywhere--and in due time, it will be the norm. I criticize the government in Ontario for shortsightedness--that is, failing to recognize that there is life west of Dixie Road--and that the business realities elsewhere in Ontario are different than they are in T.O. | ||
Miketoronto Member Username: Miketoronto Post Number: 325 Registered: 07-2004 |
Look smoking law or not, if a city has interesting things, people will cross over. If Windsor is so worried that people won't come over, just because they can't smoke. Then build a city that is so eye catching a must see place, that people will come over for the day and want to come over. People coming over just so they can smoke is not an excuse. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2928 Registered: 08-2004 |
Miketoronto, there will be such an "eye catching must see" place... it will be Detroit MGM Grand Permanent Casino. They're spending nearly $800 million (or more, it's all hush-hush). When it comes to one-ups-man-ship, Casino Windsor will be checked at every turn by MGM Detroit and MotorCity Casinos. | ||
Blitz Member Username: Blitz Post Number: 202 Registered: 09-2004 |
Windsor is in a very unique position, it can't just be compared to any other Ontario city - especially Toronto. Bingo halls have closed because of the smoking ban effects, charities have lost money, people have lost jobs, the casino revenue is way down, restaurant business is down, etc. Add to that the sagging auto industry and the Ford closures and you have a city that is not enjoying any of the economic booms that other Ontario cities are currently experiencing. | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 5889 Registered: 10-2003 |
And an attitude like that is why we hate you Toronto folk down here in Windsor. | ||
Blitz Member Username: Blitz Post Number: 203 Registered: 09-2004 |
fo sho' | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 561 Registered: 09-2005 |
And there is no Parti Windsorite because...? | ||
Goat Member Username: Goat Post Number: 8881 Registered: 10-2003 |
You couldn't have said it any better AIW. With the smug attitudes of places like T.O. (the world does NOT revolve around your city you know? But then again you did need the army to shovel you out /sarcasm)) and the ass kissing capital of Ontario, London, no wonder no one wants to help you out when you do have a legitimate point or argument. This of course not being one of them. Get over yourself! What's good for the namby pamby's of T.O. is not necessarily good for the rest of Ontario...believe it or not. Gistok make a very valid point. Windsor will not and cannot compete with three casinos. The city needs every advantage it can just to survive. But of course since the greater GTA is now sucking on the various car companies tit, the Ontario gov't doesn't need Windsor any longer. I hope all your chickens come home to roost. UIO, I would love for Essex to split from this god awful place we call Ontario. As long as we have MP whore's like Duncan and Pupatello we might as well serve ourselves. At least we got served better from the Conservative gov't of Harris than we have from these fools. | ||
Blitz Member Username: Blitz Post Number: 204 Registered: 09-2004 |
It wouldn't bother me at all if we separated from Ontario - I feel no connection to this province. Let Essex, Kent, and Lambton counties break off and form our own province...we're always the forgotten, neglected region. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2936 Registered: 08-2004 |
My Canadian county geography is a little fuzzy, does that include Sarnia? By splitting from Ontario you still have the issues with First Nation peoples (the only ones that come to mind are the ones near Walpole Island). Would they too want to split from Ontario? I remember the situation when Quebec wanted to secede from Canada. The First Nation peoples of Quebec (living in the hydro-electric rich, but population poor north) said they would secede from Quebec and rejoin Canada if they were to try that. | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 685 Registered: 11-2003 |
Yes, Sarnia is in Lambton County. | ||
Docmo Member Username: Docmo Post Number: 126 Registered: 10-2005 |
http://www.makemiairsmokefree. org! | ||
Fastcarsfreedom Member Username: Fastcarsfreedom Post Number: 70 Registered: 11-2005 |
MGM Grand, MotorCity and Greektown will all build/expand into oppulent Casino/Hotel properties. Nonetheless, the expansion and renovation at CW is going to create an incredible LV-caliber casino/resort. Let us not forget that CW is not run by some backwater organization but by Harrah's--not exactly a small player in the gaming industry. I'm confident the folks at Harrah's are just as adept as those at MGM, Ilitch Enterprises and Keewadin when it comes to building a competitive gaming property. The border is a moot issue in the industry-wide practice of one-up-man-ship among casinos--chances are we will see all 4 properties in a constant state of evolution as they fight over regional gaming dollars and market share. | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 563 Registered: 09-2005 |
With respect to aboriginal people in Lambton County, it is the federal government that has jurisdiction over aboriginal peoples and has the fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of such peoples. Such rights would not be affected should the Sarnia area secede from Ontario (and remain part of Canada). | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2940 Registered: 08-2004 |
I agree Fastcarsfreedom. But one issue is that Harrah's is only the operator of Casino Windsor (and receive a fee to run it), and not the owner. Money to expand Casino Windsor comes from the government of Ontario, not Harrah's. So Harrah's cannot make decisions at will about further expansions. Those decisions rest with the Ontario government. While not exactly poor, that government has lots of other obligations to deal with besides casino expansion. But yes they will not just sit idly by and do nothing while the Detroit casinos try to outdo each other. I also bet that the 2008 Passport requirements for border crossings makes the Detroit casinos happy. Future American visitors to Detroit will no long be able simply cross over into Windsor at a moments notice.... not unless they came prepared with a passport. (Although I think the passport issue will hurt both Detroit and Windsor). | ||
Goat Member Username: Goat Post Number: 8884 Registered: 10-2003 |
The passport fiasco has been put off until 2009 now. : ) | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 571 Registered: 09-2005 |
Goat: Congress has set June 2009 as the deadline; I believe the legislation allows the executive to implement the passport requirement upon three months notice anytime prior to the June 2009 deadline. | ||
Fastcarsfreedom Member Username: Fastcarsfreedom Post Number: 71 Registered: 11-2005 |
Not to split hairs Gistok, but future decisions on expansions, etc at Casino Windsor would be made by OLG--granted it is a crown corporation--but as such it acts as a business owned by the government, and not a direct government department. OLG has 12 years of experience in the gaming industry and they've shown a great willingness to work with the private operators at Windsor, Rama and both sites in Niagara Falls when it comes to making strategic competitive decisions. For it's part, Harrah's has been far more directly involved in the day-to-day planning and execution of the redevelopment of CW than CW private operators have been in the past--whether that be the 3-way consortium days (Caesars, Circus Circus, Hilton) or the latter period when it was Park Place/Caesars. The operating agreements between the OLG and the private operators of the commercial casinos are not public domain--so the details of exactly how the P3 works are not known. If you have seen any of the work that has happened thusfar in Windsor--the changes are impressive. |
