Toronto Casino, yay or nay?

Curious as to what you guys think about Casino's in Toronto since there is a potential for a referendum on the subject.

I think there are a few differing but important opinions from all sides of the socio-political spectrum.

Enlighten me!

debauchery island!!!

I just can't see how gambling can help.

I have a friend with a cottage on Rama Road up north that can't wait for Rama to close down, which it surely will if this casino is built.

When boomers were teens they smoked pot but didn't gamble or solicit prostituion all that much. Fast forward and what have they paved the way for and what is still illegal? Am I the only one that thinks that odd?

Seems like we can't condone quickly enough anything that is addictive and taxable.

I always figured "Know your limit" was a slogan developed to encourage addicts under extreme debt to kill themselves.

I can see your side Mike but I disagree. It's kind of a 'nanny state' thing to not open something because some ppl may abuse it and fuck their lives up. If the gov had the same approach to booze or cigarettes or fast food then I'd back the idea not to open a casino. But since they allow ppl the freedom to choose those vices why not this one? The kids of a degenerate gambler probably don't suffer any greater than the kids of a degenerate alcoholic.

Having said all that, they could implement some sort of programs to help ppl from falling victim. Like some sort of player card you had to use to access the casino, which they could track your usage, etc.

In the end I believe if someone wants to gamble they will gamble. Whether it's in a local casino or they drive to the falls/orillia or jump a plane to vegas.

Also, at the risk of going into essay mode here... There are good things associated. A lot of people will get jobs out of this, just in the construction alone. The extra "tourism" dollars, the hotels, etc. It won't be all deadbeats down there spending their baby bonus.

Fair enough, but under no circumstances can a smoker or alcoholic lose their house or child's tuition or money designated for necessary medical expenses after one night out drinking or smoking, can they? ;)

The casino is a given, but I believe it's only being greenlit to facilitate a wider spread introduction to gambling. I bet you'll be able to lose a bundle in slots at the grocery store soon enough. Once the floodgates were opened with the 2 casinos we originally had, and remember at the time they were built far away from the city for a reason, it was only a matter of time before the shittiest parts of the province were in on it too (Niagara, Windsor, Barrie, I'm shocked Cornwall doesn't have one yet) because the province knows these people will turn their welfare, sorry, social assistance cheques back over happily that way.

The only thing that shocks me about the Toronto casino location is it's the first one this far from a native reservation. Coincidence the rest are in proximity? I don't believe so.

Either way, I have decided I support it just because I'm an addict too and anything that levels the playing field is fine with me I guess. As long as none of us can move forward, I'm happy letting the government keep us all back. ;)

Edit: Oh, and of course we need legalized gambling, otherwise the imminent future of capital punishment won't be ushered in. I'm certain it's only a matter of time before we have real life "Running Man" type reality television, and legalized gambling is necessary for that. :D

This post has been edited by ThisIsAnfield on Apr 5 2012, 12:53 PM

When Vancouver was going through this ages ago, there was a mayor from a town in the US I saw an interview with.

His town/city was close to a gambling state, Nevada I think.

He campaigned for it with all the usual rhetoric and eventually won. Now all he does is the opposite. Consults cities against it. He realizes and sees now what a mistake it was. He said within two years they went from 2 pawn shops to 60 and a whole host of problems that came along with it.

Responsible gambling ad campaigns are just ads for gambling.

If it's 'all about fun' then make it financially impossible to destroy yourself....

I guess you are right about the extent of damage that can be done quickly Mike.

Maybe someone can correct me if I am wrong, but can't you play VLT's at bars and pubs already? You can in just about anywhere that serves booze back in Newfoundland anyways. The junkies are already out at that. I guess I don't see it as such a bad problem because that type of shit is just entertainment for me. I've gone to the casino less than 10 times in the 8 years I've lived in ON and spent an avg of about 30 bucks each time I went.

Some sort of monitored players card may help but desperate ppl find a way around shit no matter how good it is.

I voteed no. While I have no problem with casinos and think they make sense in certain places, I don't really see any net benefit to Toronto in having one.

The places I see them making sense are places like Las Vegas, the Caribbean, and, to a lesser extent, Niagara and Windsor, places where the bulk of the money comes from far away. If there is a re-distribution of wealth over a broad geographic area (or, in a selfish sense, an area far enough away where you don't have to bear the consequences), then go for it. Las Vegas and Caribbean casinos make the bulk of their money from people who come from out-of-state and out-of-country, respectively. The Windsor and Niagara Falls casinos used to be full of people from across the border and therefore provided net benefits to these communities but then the border communities on the other side of the border wised-up and opened their own (sad) casinos.

My feeling would be that no one would come to Toronto for a casino alone (or at least not in any meaningful numbers) and that the revenues would mostly come from the GTA and would, in all likelihood, be disproportionately on the backs of those with lower incomes. When you add that to the social costs of gambling addiction, it just doesn't make sense for me.

Tell me I'm not the only one who sees the hilarious irony in the "know your limit" ads (à la Duke bathroom) with a section at the bottom saying "log onto our website now for a chance to WIN!"

Kinda like on Dumb and Dumber when they had the bet for 20 bux that Jim Carey could get Jeff Daniels betting by the end of the day?

lol. Totally off topic, they are making a legit sequel to that masterpiece. The Farrelly brothers are doing it and Carey/Daniels are both back.

Keep gambling where it belongs..........in all those seedy basements and back street garages of Chinatown.........and only passwords at controlled entranceways will allow you exclusive access........and only if you are chaperoned by a gentleman with a french accent........

.........where "real men" bet on two guys hyped on heroin with bandanas wrapped around their skulls to keep their brains from splattering around, while a short, older, patched-eye asian man with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth loads a revolver with only one bullet.........and the crowd goes wild with excitement as fists full of cash pass hands......in that dimly lit, crowded, smoke filled room where fortunes are made and lost and the bandana men spin the revolver on the table to see who shoots first.....

.....one shot they say..............just one shot.............

My dad has been introduced to a facebook slots game.

Sure, he's not losing any real money on it, but he literally sits there for hours, up late at night, and even missed dinner. When you tell him to get off he thinks it's funny and the "2 more" "no wait on i'm a roll". It's frustrating to see.

It's a good thing the closet casino to Belleville is in Gananoque or Peterborough. Both over an hour drive away. I've heard there is slots coming to the new racetrack in Belleville. Not Good.

Sure, Casino's are good for economy in someways, jobs, money to government, but how many lives do they destroy because people can't help themselves?

Agreed... Good friend of mine is addicted to VLTs... the guy has a great job in the health sciences yet is perpetually broke, pumping $500 or more a week, every week, into the video games... I dont quite get it myself

Do you guys think that something like getting them to watch an episode of Intervention that dealt with gambling may get them to open their eyes and realize what was going on?

I'm not trying to be stupid here, I am just curious. It's a terrible problem and I hope your loved ones figure out a way out of it before things get worse.

No.

They have to realize themselves what they are doing to them, their family, health , etc.

Same goes for alcoholic's, one day something just clicks and they seek the help they need. My Dad has been sober for over a year now.

Been trying to play the lesser of two evils but which one is the lesser?