July 4th sounding like a goal for new PA/WV table games

I have been keeping an eye out for news on the new table games that are to be offered [local for me]

The below is a type of article I'm starting to see. Up till now little light was being shed on timing.

Anybody else hearing anything? I'm wondering if Mr. Duffman was getting some clues on that?

Of additional interest, the writer of the article comes down pretty hard on local politicians, blaming them for a development he does not seem to be in favor of. They aren't getting a pass on the basis of having to keep up with the neighboring states to keep from having the gambling money leave the state.

http://www.pottstownmercury.com/articles/2010/04/26/opinion/srv0000008114095.txt

Only thing I have seen that is that Charlestown, WV is aiming for July 1 for their opening of table games. I caught somewhere on one of the Philly sites (can't remember) - that Delaware park was aiming for a June 18th opening, pending state approval.

-B

My wife and I were at the Meadows near Washington, PA last night. I asked security there and they said "first part of July" for tables there. I have also heard that the Erie casino is on the same time frame. Has anyone heard about the Rivers in Pittsburgh?

Pretty sure AZDuffman could speak to Meadows and/or Rivers.

The 4th of July is the stated goal for Sands in Bethlehem PA.

Holiday weekend? Sounds like a dumb date to open.

I think I'll head to A.C. that day....

Same for the Rivers, early July

Quote: jjc312pitt

Same for the Rivers, early July

When the bill was finally passed and signed by Fast Eddie this winter, the July 4th weekend was the tentative start date that was floated by all parties the next day. Looks like they are still on track.

The more I think about it New Jersey is crazy for not putting something in Northern New Jersey. It could be Meadowlands, Newark, Newark Airport, or Metropark. Even Jersey City.

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Even if it was open from 10AM to 10PM and it was just slots (including all those electronic versions of table games. It doesn't have to be a threat to Atlantic City. With the Pennsylvania casinos sending buses to Newark, Orange, Morristown, and Penn station in NYC trolling for customers who want to spend 4 hours in a casino without the longer drive to Atlantic City, they are simply going to lose a $1 billion in old lady play. Just put a slot club without a hotel within 30 minutes of 8 million people and burn off some of that demand.
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People looking for a thrill will still go to AC, but people looking to kill 4 hours will have somewhere to go without expending 4-6 hours in round trip travel.

Quote: pacomartin

The more I think about it New Jersey is crazy for not putting something in Northern New Jersey. It could be Meadowlands, Newark, Newark Airport, or Metropark. Even Jersey City.

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Even if it was open from 10AM to 10PM and it was just slots (including all those electronic versions of table games. It doesn't have to be a threat to Atlantic City. With the Pennsylvania casinos sending buses to Newark, Orange, Morristown, and Penn station in NYC trolling for customers who want to spend 4 hours in a casino without the longer drive to Atlantic City, they are simply going to lose a $1 billion in old lady play. Just put a slot club without a hotel within 30 minutes of 8 million people and burn off some of that demand.
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People looking for a thrill will still go to AC, but people looking to kill 4 hours will have somewhere to go without expending 4-6 hours in round trip travel.

It would take a while to explain, but the reasons are completely political. Here's the 1 minute version: The NJ Sports and Exposition Authority has wanted slots at the Meadowlands (they run the race track there) for years, but the clout of the South Jersey Senators have always stonewalled. The Gaming Subcommittees in the NJ Senate and House are always over-represented by South Jersey legislators, and they get a lot of money from the casinos, so they always are against expanding gaming. The thing is South Jersey gets the shaft on SOOO many other issues that the more powerful North Jersey politicians give them their way on this issue. Naturally, as you've pointed out, this worked better before every other state nearby also legalized gaming. It's a lot more complex than this (I wrote a fairly long piece on it for a graduate class) but that's the short version.

I could understand your thesis, but I think things have changed in the last few years. Now you have Mt. Airy and Sands casino sending buses to within 15 miles of Meadowlands, and buses to Manhattan.

The money is flowing out of state now. It's not all intra-state rivalry.

Quote: pacomartin

I could understand your thesis, but I think things have changed in the last few years. Now you have Mt. Airy and Sands casino sending buses to within 15 miles of Meadowlands, and buses to Manhattan.

The money is flowing out of state now. It's not all intra-state rivalry.

Absolutely, which is what I said would happen if they continued to fight with each other. It's just one of those things that the good of the whole state is secondary because the decision makers are being overly influenced by the actors that will be negatively affected (the casinos). The casinos don't care about the good of the state as whole, and they feel that they are going to lose customers to the other states anyway, so they damn well better not lose EVEN MORE to an in-state entity that they have the power to control. Don't be surprised to see the big AC players (Harrahs, Icahn, etc) on the list of donors to out of state pols who were loudly opposed to the expansions (in Del, PA, etc). About 12 years ago I volunteered on a political campaign with a gentleman that I became friends with, and now he's a state senator in NJ and I speak to him about this issue all the time. He says "Dude [yes, he says dude], we're in the minority, I can't do anything."