Pittsburgh casino...good or bad?

[guylocke]

The casino not happening?

It's definitely happening.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by Elder18

I know Detroit's been sinking for a long time. That's why they've latched onto casinos as a last-ditch effort to make money and the city is still in horrible debt.

I just worry that Pittsburgh will see casinos as a panacea to solve everything. What are the chances of them not happening?

I think it's a done deal, but I'm not there.

Out here in California, the casinos are more like gambling spas. You can go and get good food, massaged and pampered and see a show -- not Vegas quality, more like older rock bands sort of acts, but still a nice show. The gambling is what brings in the money, and people do it, but the casinos here are trying to create an all around experience.

Considering that we've been in Reno, Tahoe and Vegas -- we haven't lost more than 100 bucks total. And we enjoyed the casinos. Of course, we went to see Don Rickles in Reno, Debbie Reynolds and Rip Taylor in Tahoe and Vegas -- well -- that's where we decided to really gamble.

I lost 20 bucks at roulette in no time and hubby lost 40 at blackjack in 10 seconds longer. We stuck with the nickle slots after that. I won 14 bucks!

I think creating an experience is what casinos need to do. People like me need a reason to go into the casino -- good food and spas and shows do that. Now -- we're really strange about money (read that as CHEEP!!) so we absolutely won't spend hours gambling, and we won't drop more than 10 bucks or so to gamble. But most poeple we know that go to casinos for the smae thing we do have a gambling limit. "I'm not going to lose more than 100 bucks a day." And they stick to it.

I've gone on too long because I am TIRED, after shoving a 16 pound vacuum cleaner around a 1/4 mile of carpet... and I just can't wait till I retire....

I hate janitorial work. Sucks it just pays so well... (when you own the company)

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Elder18

I know Detroit's been sinking for a long time. That's why they've latched onto casinos as a last-ditch effort to make money and the city is still in horrible debt.

It's a state thing. The state is doing this to supplement revenue for the schools to alleviate property taxes.

Originally Posted by Elder18

I just worry that Pittsburgh will see casinos as a panacea to solve everything. What are the chances of them not happening?

If you read my other posts, my girlfiend already landed a job working at the casino. Her training starts at the beginning of May.

And, by the way, quit saying 'them'---JoeP did a good job of explaining how there is only one being built.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

Out here in California, the casinos are more like gambling spas. You can go and get good food, massaged and pampered and see a show -- not Vegas quality, more like older rock bands sort of acts, but still a nice show. The gambling is what brings in the money, and people do it, but the casinos here are trying to create an all around experience.

Considering that we've been in Reno, Tahoe and Vegas -- we haven't lost more than 100 bucks total. And we enjoyed the casinos. Of course, we went to see Don Rickles in Reno, Debbie Reynolds and Rip Taylor in Tahoe and Vegas -- well -- that's where we decided to really gamble.

I just don't understand how the Pittsburgh plans are going to be exciting. The casino is only going to have slot machines. That sounds boring to me! I couldn't imagine driving down there just to sit and put quarters into a slot machine. If there were card games, I'd probably wander down once or twice a year with a small spending limit. But I won't go there to put money into slot machines.

[South Range Family]

Pittsburgh always has been, and always will be a gambling town. You can find a church or firehall bingo game any night of the week. For at least the last forty years you could go to any neighborhood bar and play the video poker machines. If they know you, they will pay your winnings from a cigar box tucked behind the bar.
While going to aircraft maintenance school in the early 80's, I lived with my Grandmother in West Mifflin. I was not allowed to make any phone calls until after 7PM. The phone was ringing off the hook all day with old ladies playing their lottery numbers. Everyday I took calls from Marcelle, Madeline, Irene, Dorothy, Mary, Agnes, and about 50 other old bitties. Instead of a dollar for each number, they would play for 50 cents straight and boxed. Or sometimes only a dime. Once a week the bookie would come to pay up winnings and collect his money. Gram would then make sure the right people got their money. I know that the interest is there to support the casinos. This is just a way to keep some of that money from leaving the State, and possibly creating some jobs. If nothing else, it will at least provide some local entertainment.

[guylocke]

Lots of states only allow slots. WV is frantically trying to pass the a-ok on tables to stay ahead of the curve now that their neighbor (us) is getting slots.

If you do a little research I bet you could find that a huge portion (probably over 50%) of people that go to Casino's go for slots. That's all my mum and cousins do and they head to Las Vegas once a year.

Also, like I said, the casino's already open in Erie and Pocono are exceeding everyone's expectations. And like Tallysmom was talking about, the Pittsburgh casino is going to be a lot about fine dining, entertainment, and other activities of leisure like spas. It'll be really nice, wait and see. Have you seen the concept drawings? Phenomenal.

[Smoker]

The girl who used to cut my hair, many female friends, my aunt... it seems only females will talk on and on about how much fun it is playing slot machines. I've never heard a man say a thing about them.

I may check the casino out after it's built, go in, walk around and leave without spending a dime, go home and never go back again. I miss the Holiday House.

[tclifton]

Originally Posted by PPG

Your thoughts please.

Good. I think it's been great for us.

[SPSGuy]

I actually liked reading this bumped thread. It is fun to read concerns about the casino while in proposal phase. Like how it was going to turn Pittsburgh into a mini-Vegas or Atlantic City. LOL. Pretty much every town has a casino in PA now.

I like the buffet. Go there about twice a year.

[tclifton]

Originally Posted by SPSGuy

I actually liked reading this bumped thread. It is fun to read concerns about the casino while in proposal phase. Like how it was going to turn Pittsburgh into a mini-Vegas or Atlantic City. LOL. Pretty much every town has a casino in PA now.

I like the buffet. Go there about twice a year.

Thank you!