I have not been following the work on the new casino over on the North Shore, but fortunately for me Nut Bar has and brought me up to speed yesterday at brunch. As you all may know, the original developer's financing fell through, but--no surprise--another organization stepped up with funding and they will be opening the newly-christened Rivers Casino in early August.Today the Post-Gazette ran a story (it must have been a slow news day) about the first delivery of slot machines--whoo-hoo! Altogether there will be 3,000 slot machines, with nearly half being penny or two-cent slot machines--perhaps a nod to all of the senior citizens who will be making a beeline to the casino, clutching the proceeds from their social security checks.
The Rivers Casino will also have the dubious distinction of also having the most expensive slot machine in the state, accepting a $500 wager, so some sad sack will be able to empty out his bank account even faster!
If having slot machines in Pittsburgh isn't bad enough, you know the day will come (probably shortly after they open) that they want to add table games, especially since their competition, Wheeling Downs, already have table games.
Fortunately the politicos have toned down their rhetoric proclaiming that casino revenue will slash property taxes. But the elephant in the room that no one is talking about is all of the negative aspects of having a casino in Pittsburgh: gambling addiction, increased crime, organized crime, prostitution, and God knows what else--all taking place next to two popular sports arenas. Pittsburgh Pirates fan, meet the neighborhood prostitute. Steelers fan, meet the area mafia don.
If you've never been to a casino, they're noisy, smoking, with the smell of flop sweat in the air. You can make it as "old time country club-y" as you want, but it won't cover the sense of desperation on the look of the senior yinzer faces. Because everyone knows the house always wins.
What? we have prostitues here? how come I never knew that? I feel cheated now....
ReplyDeletei hate the whole gaming culture.
ReplyDeletehowever, i dont think the outlook will be as grim as some people make it out to be. this is simply because prostitution, drugs, etc. are already part of the social fabric. we've just tolerated a certain level of it. as long as its kept out of suburbs that are at least 80% white and where average income is in the top 90%, few people really care and life goes on.
Yes, it may foster MORE of this stuff, but the whores and the new hip opportunists will blend in to the urban scenery of the new north side.
I would have preferred something besides a casino. but this IS pittsburgh, so noted for its in-the-box thinking. what DID you expect? a small venue for soccer or other sports? an outdoor concourse of restaurants (pgh needs more MID-EASTERN)? a small amusement park with thing like bunjee jumps? no need to scare the patrons with the sight so happy, active children harnessed and catapulting themselves into the air. and think of the potential puke that might result-- the custodian union will refuse to address that.
meanwhile, the famous "spine line" is put on the back burner...again...
oh, how i 'digress'.