Regarding the downtown Hamilton casino, I thought this article on Windsor's experience was interesting. Basically, initially a lot of US tourism pre-911 and smoking bans and then a cratering of US tourists with lost jobs. Also mentioned is that there isn't any spillover to nearby businesses.
Then there's this Spec piece by CHML's Scott Thompson. Thompson's pieces generally make me think of him as a not very bright person who has his job because of his radio voice. Here his argument seems to be $200 million downtown investment repeated over and over. Reminds me of Macklemore's line in the song "Thrift Shop", "tricked by bizness." Sure it's $200 million downtown investment, but one that sucks away local disposable income to the province, leaving a relative pittance, plus increased social service costs when increased local lower city gambling has an unfortunate few flaming out by losing their homes and jobs and the like.
Downtown has momentum now anyways. I've heard people saying Barton is going to be the new James North. We don't need a casino.
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