Hmmmmm ...

"The Opinion250 poll which asked if you supported a gaming centre for downtown Prince George wrapped up with 39.2% saying yes, 60.8% saying no."

I am sort of doing a double take when I read that, and then compare it to the headline.

That is the most spin doctored headline I have ever seen. Yes, you can argue that 39% show their support for a gaming centre.

So what do we do with the 60+% that did not show support for it?

So, on the other matter, will our taxes be going down? Or will we be getting an increase in services, and where will that be? More and better resurfaced city streets?

I noticed that we have more per capita gambling spending at casinos and bingo going on here than in Kamloops and Kelowna. Must be the northern weather. Or is it that we have more spending money? Or something else.

I can see another PhD thesis in the works.

IF 39 OUT OF A 100 WANT TO GAMBLE LET IT BE.
I DOUBT IF THE SYMPHONY OR THE PLAYHOUSE CAN BOAST THOSE NUMBERS.

"Given the sort of money the city gets back, I'm in support of a gaming centre."

One needs to look at the whole picture in order to make informed decisions.

Of the total $2.26 billion gaming income in the province - lottery, casino, bingo - about 7% goes to local community organizations and charities, about 3% to local government, about 20% to operators, and about 30% for prizes. So, you could say that on average it appears that about 60% of the money spent in gambling locally, stays in the local community. That will, of course, vary from community to community. The rest goes away to other expenses, with over 30% going to the province - roughly 25% to health and the rest to "consolidated" revenues.

Let us say that it is entertainment or recreation which is being purchased by the gambler. Then let me ask you the question:

How much of the money people spend when they "buy" the following entertainment stays in the community?

1. entrance to the swimming pool
2. ticket to a local theatre production
3. ticket to the symphony
4. dinner at a restaurant
5. a night out at the pub
6. tickets to a cougars game

None of those would approach that amount of money leaving the community.

The type of entertainment which takes around 40% of the gross income out of this community is entertainment which brings national and international class entertainers to this city, be they ballet, country, rock, magicians, or whatever.

There is nothing exotic about slot machines or gaming tables anymore. They are the same here as in Vagas. I say if we are going to keep them in this community, then let us keep 100% of the money in this community. There is no reason to send local money elsewhere for this type of two bit "entertainment".

I personally would like to see them all closed...I have seen enough families ruined because of this....

"IF 39 OUT OF A 100 WANT TO GAMBLE LET IT BE.
I DOUBT IF THE SYMPHONY OR THE PLAYHOUSE CAN BOAST THOSE NUMBERS."

There is a difference between "wanting to" and actually doing. I want to be able to swim in a municipal pool, but hardly ever do. There are a lot of things people want to do, but never or rarely do. I agree we must have options.

There are three forms of legal gambling in this province - lottery, casino, bingo. We have access to all three right now. The question is, do we need more?

When looking at the figures from the two facilities in town, the casino is not making as much as other places in the province per table and per slot. The bingo seats are making more than most other places. Thus, if we are to say let us meet demand, we need more bingo seats, not more slots.

As far as how many total hours of use per seat at the Casino versus the performing arts events, I think that is a no brainer. All one has to do is look at the parking lots of the various venues and compare it to the parking lot at the casino. In fact, the total number of car hours at the casino parking lot is miniscule to the total number of car hours during all the time of the cougars games at the CN centre.

Hey, another Masters thesis for UNBC. How many here, how many elsewhere in BC, and what are the reasons for extreme variations, if any.

I tend to agree Gofaster, although I have nto seen that. Nevertheless, one does nto have to observe something themselves in order to know it exists.

The question I have to ask myself is "are we better off now than we were 10 years or so ago when Casinos did not exist in BC?

Are we better off now than when lotteries did not exist?

Are we better off now when bingo halls did not exist?

I think total prohibition is not the answer since it drives the practice underground, as does the prohibition of alcohol and similar addictive behaviours. But we do not need to promote it, and we do not need to spin the fact that this is a money grab by the province, typically from the lower to middle income group who can least afford to provide volunteer tax $.

.

My apologies to all.
In my haste to post this story, I transposed the poll numbers. Those in favour 60.8% Those against 39.2%
Again, I apologize for the error.
Elaine Macdonald

Well Elaine, to totally repent you may buy all us regulars on 250 a burger and beer at the BX pub tonight, say about 6pm....and pick up the tab for our Keno playing s well. ***wink***

Personally I just find the discussion interesting.
The casinos are NOT going away any time soon...they will grow and become more plentiful though I am sure.
I personally have never gone to the casino yet and not made money.
I have a perfect record there....never lost money, always made money with each visit!
So plase keep them....LOL

You are lucky Marty.....
I know those who were not so.....