As one of the people responsible for casino gaming in New Jersey, I think I'm as acquainted with what's happened there as anybody around today.
By way of introduction, I was an executive with Resorts International during the campaign to approve casino gaming in 1974 and 76, working with officials to tell the story of gaming.
Here is my reply to No Casinos' comparison of the gaming landscape in Atlantic City and Florida.
1. No Casinos says Atlantic City proves that gambling doesnt help the local economy.
Atlantic City casinos provided more than 50,000 jobs to a South Jersey badly in need of new jobs, after glass industry factories closed. At least another 25,000 jobs were filled in support industries and services. These lasted for 30 years. In addition, casino taxes provided close to $10 billion in support of the senior citizens and disabled in New Jersey, plus many billions of dollars more in construction of Atlantic City resorts.
2. No Casinos says Atlantic City proves that oversaturation is real and could be headed to Florida.
Oversaturation was a forgone conclusion -- if nearby cities introduced full casinos or slot operations. Florida is very different, with no meaningful population within a 2- to 3-hour drive. Ninety-five percent of Atlantic City's previous customers now live closer to a casino in Eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland or two racetracks with 10,000 slots servicing New York City, than they do to Atlantic City.
But as a Northeast monopoly, with no limit on the number of casinos allowed, it was inevitable that developers would take a calculated risk on how long the tri-state monopoly would last. With the exception of Mississippi, every new state approving full resort or riverboat casinos has limited the expansion, either by a specific number, or by a commission that has to determine that new gaming would not damage existing operators. All recent Florida legislation, dealing with the possible approval of resort casinos, has severely limited the number under consideration.
3. No Casinos says in order for casino companies to grow, they must expand into new markets and Florida is considered a top prize.
No Casinos is correct that Florida's population and heavy tourism makes it a coveted target of casino companies. But their conclusion that families and gaming cannot coexist is incorrect. Las Vegas, Biloxi and Atlantic City are resorts that offer casino games, but rely on many other attractions including golf, entertainment and meeting and exhibit facilities that have nothing to do with casinos. And Singapore has Resort's World Sentosa. RWS combines a Universal Studio Theme Park with one of the world's largest, busiest casinos. Children are not permitted in casinos, but can have a great time at the facilities provided for them.
There are Florida resort communities -- though they may not be as successful as Miami Beach and Orlando -- where the hotel associations say they don't need destination casinos. But if these other resorts have a nearby airport and a meaningful number of available accommodations, they might want to look at casino gaming for its ability to attract millions of new visitors.
(To read the other side of issue on which Steve Norton's column is based,click here for POINT: Three Reasons Floridians Should Care About Plight of Atlantic City.)
Steve Norton was chairman of Argosy Gaming and helped to expand gaming in mid-America. Today he is a consultant to many gaming companies.
