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PROPOSED: Harrah's/Narragansett Casino

Cotuit

By Cotuit
in Rhode Island

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CtownMikey Burg

CtownMikey

Posted
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What would the best situation be though?

I would imagine a casino in Providence. Very close to or in downcity somewhere somehow..

JUST a gambling casino/arcade section for kids.. NO extra restaurants, NO extra performance venue, no cinema, nothing extra. Let those casino customers utilize what Providence already has---> the new hotels coming, the great food, PPAC, the dunk, etc.

I don't think this is a realistic idea, but to me, it seems to be the safest for the city... if it were even possible.

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Baines Hamlet

Baines

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I couldn't find the older casino thread.. i'm sorry that I created a new one :( ANYWAYS :)

I was searching for the old thread because I was curious as to what people had to say about a Providence casino in place of a West Warwick casino.

What are the Pros and what are the Cons?

It is in "Downcity Topics".

I will address three points...the only one's I have enough knowledge of to have thoughts.

Field's Point Casino - is an outstanding location for a casino for three reasons: a long suffering area, a viable economic engine (Weather is an obstacle that southeastern cities never have to face...it isn't like there is a chance for a Busch Gardens), and it would extend the nightlife activity of Downcity from the south. That extension would best be served by combination of the existing trolley system and an LRT. Think of the posibilities of an integrated system that ties the Casino, Waterplace, and the Power Block.

Scituate Reservoir land sale - a dangerous idea for two reasons: issues in another jurisdiction, no real benefit and a loss of land that cannot be recovered from one of the nation's cleanest public water systems.

Roger Williams Park - This is one of America's great urban parks (mostly due to the best zoo in the region) and any thoughful enhancement, like name restaurants, would be a positive.

In closing, his best point is that Providence is rich in potential and has much underused land. This is a unique asset for a northeastern city...but it requires bold ideas and action.

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Garris Town

Garris

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JUST a gambling casino/arcade section for kids.. NO extra restaurants, NO extra performance venue, no cinema, nothing extra. Let those casino customers utilize what Providence already has---> the new hotels coming, the great food, PPAC, the dunk, etc.

I don't think this is a realistic idea, but to me, it seems to be the safest for the city... if it were even possible.

Absolutely. I recall that during the last casino go-around, the PPAC in particular was particularly vocal that there is usually a fixed arts and entertainment pool in a region, and that a huge casion/performance venue/restaurant complex would probably kill them.

So I completely agree. A casino (if it has to happen) only that complements, not replaces, Providence's other attractions.

- Garris

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CtownMikey Burg

CtownMikey

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is that just a dream though?? Or are there examples of this somewhere in other cities?

I can't imagine that a company like Harrah's would cut out a hotel, performing arts, restaurant type casino... but maybe it's something that the state could bargain with them on.

"you guys can have your R.I. casino, if you build it in providence and if you exclude all of these extras like the (hotel, performing arts, restaurant, spa, resort blah blah blah)

is it worth mentioning to our city of providence representatives at the next UP meeting?

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Recchia Town

Recchia

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As far as I'm concerned, we already have two casinos. Lincoln Greyhound Park & Newport Grand. Why do we need a third. Also, we have the Rhode Island Lottery.

Exactly! Lincoln Park is expanding too, right? And they have shows. Sounds like a Casino to me, without of course real gambling tables and such. Sucks that they aren't in Providence though... If it is inevitable to have an additional casino then it should at least be a casino and a casino only, like Ctown and Garris said.

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Frankie811 City

Frankie811

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Exactly! Lincoln Park is expanding too, right? And they have shows. Sounds like a Casino to me, without of course real gambling tables and such. Sucks that they aren't in Providence though... If it is inevitable to have an additional casino then it should at least be a casino and a casino only, like Ctown and Garris said.

The farther away a casino is to an urban center, the better. Ever been to Atlantic City?

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Mij Whistle-Stop

Mij

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The farther away a casino is to an urban center, the better. Ever been to Atlantic City?

Im not so sure that would be the example any casino owner would pitch to a city like providence. Take a look at this article It was in sundays journal and it makes a case for a casino, and in Providence ta'boot. Any way, check it out

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Dan Hamlet

Dan

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Casino backers tout millions in property-tax aid

"As I've said all along: in the light of the two Supreme Court decisions, it's the only way that the people are going to be able to make the decision."

He said it would "be hypocritical of me . . . to take some kind of moral position" against the proposed casino when the state already "relies so much on gambling."

---State Senate President Joseph Montalbano

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Cotuit Megalopolis

Cotuit

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Panel OKs casino vote. With a 14-to-5 vote in the House Finance Committee, the bill to put a ballot question before voters amending the state Constitution to allow a privately run casino now goes to the full House. [ProJo.com]

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runawayjim Metropolis

runawayjim

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Panel OKs casino vote. With a 14-to-5 vote in the House Finance Committee, the bill to put a ballot question before voters amending the state Constitution to allow a privately run casino now goes to the full House. [ProJo.com]

while i don't oppose a casino, i do oppose this amendment that gives the state no leverage (like carcieri said) and is so specific in wording that trump can't even try to compete. i think trump should be able to compete and they should allow the highest bidder to build. hell, if this amendment gets passed, the narragansetts could say "we'll give the state 10%" or it could be less. it's just ridiculous that elected officials could even vote in favor of something like that.

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Mij Whistle-Stop

Mij

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Even though the idea is pretty dead now...has it been discussed here why the idea of a Providence casino with no additional venue space, but just purely a casino with a hotel, has pretty much been brushed off?

I have long thought that Warf 1, Conley Place along Allens would have been great for this. Get rid of some of the ugly industrial water front stuff and Insure that local hotles will get a bump in business, But I'm sure that politics and traffic could be reason enough. I have always heard rumer that the PP mall was designed to be a casino if the mall failed.

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Mij Whistle-Stop

Mij

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I don't see why you guys even want a casino? Do you know what having a casino will do for the city if it was at the warf? Can you say crime and more poverty?

Yeah I think thats what people would say 10 - 15 years ago. Now that we as RI's have had the chance to see how a casino should be run, many more people will see it as an oppurtunity to bring in more revenue. I dont see it ever coming to providence, i was just making the point that a destination casino instead of dirty industy would be a little easier on the eyes.

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dexter Unincorporated Area

dexter

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A real problem for Prov with a Vegas style casino in RI is that they want all your dollars. Your entertainment dollars(kills PPAC etc), your lodging dollars, your dining dollars and of course the gaming dollars. It's a bid insidious what it can do to a place as culturally cool as Prov. I was in Lugano a couple of years ago and there was a casino right on the lake. It was a nice building and it was only a casino. No restaurants. No theaters. No hotel. All those things were provided in the city that surrounded it. How about a casino in Capital Center?

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damus Burg

damus

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thats what I am asking... why cant the state force trump and harrahs to build JUST a casino... and make it on Providence's waterfront???

i think having it in capital center would create too much traffic

Would the downtown property have to be annexed in order to support the casino? I imagine if it's not built as an Indian casino you'll be opening the floodgates. It would be pretty odd to have a, say, 1.5 acre parcel of land as an "indian" (i use quotations because the Narragansetts are probably like the Pequots and the Mohegans, fake tribes) reservation.

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Cotuit Megalopolis

Cotuit

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Would the downtown property have to be annexed in order to support the casino? I imagine if it's not built as an Indian casino you'll be opening the floodgates. It would be pretty odd to have a, say, 1.5 acre parcel of land as an "indian" (i use quotations because the Narragansetts are probably like the Pequots and the Mohegans, fake tribes) reservation.

I did a little reading, it seems that the Harrahgansetts reached an agreement with the state (the Settlement Act) before they were re-recognized as a Federal Tribe. The Settlement Act gave jurisdiction over the tribes land to the state. This is why the Harrahganesset need a Constitutional amendement for a casino whereas other tribes in other states do not.

In 1996, the Appeals Court's opinion regarding gaming was effectively reversed when the U.S. Congress passed an amendment to the Rhode Island Indian Claims Settlement Act which noted that "For purposes of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, settlement lands shall not be treated as Indian lands." Moreover, the 1996 amendment left unchanged the Act's language granting civil and criminal jurisdiction to the state of Rhode Island."

link

This is also why the Harrahgansetts are looking to place their casino in West Warwick, right off the highway, rather than on their land in Charlestown. Since the Gaming Act does not apply, it doesn't matter where they put their casino, they are really no different than Trump, they aren't trying to get a casino based on the Gaming Act because it was ruled in 1996 that their previous agreements with the state make the Gaming Act not applicable to them. So, they could put their casino in Providence, but the city (at least the current administation) is opposed to a casino, so the tribe isn't going to try fighting that fight too if they can get West Warwick to play with them.

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CtownMikey Burg

CtownMikey

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I think it was Paolino who commented about the fact that a casino in west warwick would automatically place Providence as the 2nd Rhode Island destination for conventions... so why wouldnt Providence try to plan an agreement where they maybe give out some tax benefits for the exchange of just a waterfront casino.. no additional hotel, food, or convention space.

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runawayjim Metropolis

runawayjim

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I think it was Paolino who commented about the fact that a casino in west warwick would automatically place Providence as the 2nd Rhode Island destination for conventions... so why wouldnt Providence try to plan an agreement where they maybe give out some tax benefits for the exchange of just a waterfront casino.. no additional hotel, food, or convention space.

i agree... this would be the best thing. casino goes in our red light district, it could help clean it up a bit, and it'd bring more people into the city to utilize the hotels and enjoy the culture that already exists rather than create anew.

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