Five casinos are presenting proposals for a casino complex in the City of Richmond, Virginia.

 

One will be awarded the opportunity to construct and operate the casino which is supposed to attract over 2.5 million people a year and have a parking area for 3,000 vehicles.

 

Here is the Bally's web site that is making the rounds:

https://ballysrichmond.com/?utm_source=Paid Social&utm_medium=FB&utm_campaign=March&utm_term=Local Residents&utm_content=Ad 4&fbclid=IwAR3r2q8gZRE9-e0WuUd7IdtyE_WbhAl7EJEwI5gDcu6qRXb4JNrqduBc31M

 

So guys and gals, first, are you for a casino in your home town and second, what do you think would be the best one?

 

Looking for the Las Vegas guys and gals to give us their input, too.

 

As long as it has a pond stocked with largemouth bass I will vote for it.

 

Thanks in advance for your insight and comments.

My only point of reference is when I was in high school I trained racehorses in Omaha, NE (Aksarben) and when the ponies came to town it brought out a lot of people and some of them had problems with gambling.  I didn’t notice any increase in crime.  It did increase tourism from some of the closer towns.  I have had friends in the casino business so I have heard some of the horror stories but I don’t think it’s the norm.  IMHO it will make Richmond a destination point with all of the good and bad that comes with it.  

Nearly everyone I know here is saying, "Yeah, build it on the other side of town, not where I live."

 

There's enough stupid stuff going on here already without some place handing out free drinks 24/7.

The casino's in Missouri aren't allowed to hand out free drinks - something about a fair market value law the Missouri Restaurant Association had a hand in prior to the casinos coming into Missouri.

In my opinion, casinos would have fewer troubles with over serving if they were allowed to hand out "free" drinks, i.e. after 2 or 3 beers - "Here you go, sir, enjoy this cold frosty mug of O'Doul's".

 

I don't honestly see it making Richmond a destination.  Several of the guys I hunt with and are from Richmond like to gamble and go to Charles Town, WV and other similar places.  They said the MGM at National Harbor would bring in some ridiculous number of people every year, and while the project is not a a failure, it didn't live up to the promises.  Too many places to gamble, I guess.

I’m all for casinos, sports gambling, lotteries, etc. 
 

For me personally the the big draw of casinos are events, concerts, and above average restaurants.
 

The Horseshoe in Tunica used to have large coolers of free beer on Friday nights. It was self serve and lasted till midnight. For a bunch of broke college kids we were in heaven. Take $20 and drink $50 in free beer, score a free buffet, and maybe walk out with a little money. It was THE DEAL

Going to a casino is entertainment.  Attempting to beating the casino long term is a fool's game. As long as you realize that, I say have a good time.  Unfortunately, casino gambling has a dark side.  It is extremely addictive. Before you know it you are making regular payments. Once the casino hooks you, it is very difficult to quit.

 

There is such a thing as having too many casinos.  Casinos are sold to the public for the tax revenue. Who doesn't want their taxes paid by someone else?  If you have too many, no casino makes money. For example, the worst place to gamble right now is Atlantic City.   I am not familiar with Richmond and it's gambling options.  If having a casino will make your community a better place to live, perhaps it's worth it.  If you believe it will pay your taxes so you don't have to, you are mistaken. 

 

 

The 3 casinos in the Chicagoland area are in the burbs. 2 of them in so so neighborhoods are both landlocked boats. Originally, when they first allowed casinos in Illinois, they had to be on water. You'd make a reservation for a 2 hour "cruise" which meant the boat would motor to the middle of the river and sit for 2 hours before motoring back to the dock. The newest one is in what i would call a convention/shopping/hotel district 5 minutes from Ohare Airport. They keep most of the riffraff out. 

I've been told there are no free drinks at Maryland casinos due to state law.

 

I used to take several gambling trips to the Bahamas every year to enjoy the beach and food. I would also fly to Atlantic City multiple times a year to gamble at Harrah's - it was nice they didn't take bus traffic from NYC and Philly. Been to Vegas and Laughlin a few times. About 15 or 20 years ago I completely lost interest in casino gambling. I don't even actively stock trade anymore.

And I've never seen a show.   

 

I do play a little dealer's choice with the guys from time to time.

The only casinos here in MN are on tribal land.

 

I don’t frequent them but I have been to a lot of them at least once. I’ve also been to Las Vegas once and I enjoyed it so I’d like to go back sometime.

 

To me the selling point of the casino is the buffet! I don’t know of any restaurants that still offer an unlimited seafood buffet except at the casino.

 

The AOY events at Mille Lacs were held at Grand Casino in 2015 and 2016. Part of the reason they did it there was because no other location on the lake could handle it. You need a lot of space for parking and you need lodging, and a casino has both.

19 hours ago, Johnbt said:

I've been told there are no free drinks at Maryland casinos due to state law.

 

I used to take several gambling trips to the Bahamas every year to enjoy the beach and food. I would also fly to Atlantic City multiple times a year to gamble at Harrah's - it was nice they didn't take bus traffic from NYC and Philly. Been to Vegas and Laughlin a few times. About 15 or 20 years ago I completely lost interest in casino gambling. I don't even actively stock trade anymore.

And I've never seen a show.   

 

I do play a little dealer's choice with the guys from time to time.

Wife and I saw the Righteous Brothers in Las Vegas. Fantastic show.

19 hours ago, gimruis said:

The only casinos here in MN are on tribal land.

 

I don’t frequent them but I have been to a lot of them at least once. I’ve also been to Las Vegas once and I enjoyed it so I’d like to go back sometime.

 

To me the selling point of the casino is the buffet! I don’t know of any restaurants that still offer an unlimited seafood buffet except at the casino.

 

The AOY events at Mille Lacs were held at Grand Casino in 2015 and 2016. Part of the reason they did it there was because no other location on the lake could handle it. You need a lot of space for parking and you need lodging, and a casino has both.

Maybe we can get the Classic back in Richmond as Osborne Landing on the Historic James River is about 15 clicks to the east of where the casino is going to be built and it is a free moving highway to take the boats to the weigh-in.

I went to MGM National Harbor for a nice weekend to catch a comedy show, dinner, and some table games with my wife every year before COVID hit. To me, it's all about the experience and a different form of entertainment than the usual bar and dance routine. I think National Harbor was planned well, the outlet shops, dining experience, and waterfront views. Now, if only they had a resort with boat docks.......

 

Hopefully Richmond can replicate that experience.

Wife and I used to get to Charles Town once or twice a year, though it has been a couple now.  Maryland casinos (and I'm sure new VA casinos) don't have any smoking sections.  The draw for me is to be able to smoke a cigar and kill a couple hours at a blackjack table or at the track while my wife plays slots.  

29 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

The draw for me is to be able to smoke a cigar and kill a couple hours at a blackjack table or at the track while my wife plays slots.  

 

Smokers are the main reason I don't go to a casino.   When I come home from a smoky casino, my clothes stink, my eyes water and I cough for half a day.  Cigars are the worst.   They stink so bad, no one will get near them.  If you want to clear out a line of slots, light up a cigar.  Maybe that's the point?  ?

The casinos in WV and PA that we go to have separate wings with separate ventilation for smokers.  Folks who don't like the smoke don't have to go in those areas.

6 hours ago, Junger said:

I went to MGM National Harbor for a nice weekend to catch a comedy show, dinner, and some table games with my wife every year before COVID hit. To me, it's all about the experience and a different form of entertainment than the usual bar and dance routine. I think National Harbor was planned well, the outlet shops, dining experience, and waterfront views. Now, if only they had a resort with boat docks.......

 

Hopefully Richmond can replicate that experience.

Junger, the casino is not any where close to any water.

 

The Historic James River is about 10 miles to the west of the proposed site.

 

And even if the casino is on the water in the City of Richmond, the boulders and the rapids in the river would prevent any boat traffic to travel up the river to it.

 

But I really like that idea.

2 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

Smokers are the main reason I don't go to a casino.   When I come home from a smoky casino, my clothes stink, my eyes water and I cough for half a day.

I forgot about this.  That's one of the worst parts about a casino.  You stink like an ash tray after you leave.

2 hours ago, Sam said:

Junger, the casino is not any where close to any water.

 

The Historic James River is about 10 miles to the west of the proposed site.

 

And even if the casino is on the water in the City of Richmond, the boulders and the rapids in the river would prevent any boat traffic to travel up the river to it.

 

Here's one of the casinos bidding in Richmond that's proposed site will be on I-95, near water, and will have 55 acres of green space and ponds (6 minute mark in the video).

 

https://onecasinoresort.com/

 

 

 

22 hours ago, gimruis said:

I forgot about this.  That's one of the worst parts about a casino.  You stink like an ash tray after you leave.

Under Virginia's smoking laws, smoking will not be allowed in Virginia casinos and betting parolors.