Map quiz: surrounded
Hey, it's a new map quiz.
Can you guess the pattern represented by the dots on the map above?
Answer's after the jump.
The answer is...
(scroll down a bit)
Casinos in states neighboring New York.
Here's a clickable version of the map:
A few notes
+ The casino in Springfield is a proposed $800 MGM facility. The casino process in Massachusetts is up in the air after the state's highest court ruled a referendum over whether to repeal casinos in the state could appear on the November ballot. [Boston Globe]
+ The map includes racinos -- they're marked in green. In New York, racinos currently are only allowed allowed to have video lottery terminals, which are like slot machines.
+ The map does not include the Cayuga Nation's LakeSide facility in Union Springs, New York, which is temporarily closed according to its website.
+ Casino lists are via Wikipedia.
Why this map now?
Monday was the deadline for applications for the four casinos licenses to be awarded in upstate New York. One of the things we're looking forward to hearing about from the applications: Where customers for these casinos -- especially the Capital Region casino -- will come from, and what portion of those people will be projected to come from outside the region.
Just based on surrounding already-existing casinos, and the projects that will be approved for Hudson Valley and the Southern Tier, we're a bit skeptical that masses of people from outside the region will pass up these other casinos to gamble at a Capital Region casino -- especially since there's been talk recently of a gambling glut around the nation. But maybe there's a good case to be made for an influx of customers. It'll be interesting to see what the applications project.
Earlier on AOA: The casino wheel keeps spinning
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Comments
Casinos!
... said Jason on Jun 30, 2014 at 8:38 PM | link
The more research I do, the more I become convinced that a casino is a bad bet for any community. We are having a casino opposition rally tonight in Amsterdam, come out and support us if you have the time. https://www.facebook.com/events/1500856130129076/
... said Sarah on Jul 1, 2014 at 7:04 AM | link
I was gonna say Wegmans.
... said Westfall on Jul 1, 2014 at 8:53 AM | link
There is a gambling glut in this country and according to this map, our surrounding areas are already chock full of casinos.
Instead of relying on one or two giant development projects that aren't even relevant, why not do a multifaceted development approach in Albany that solidifies the downtown and prepares it for the long term success?
... said J on Jul 1, 2014 at 10:31 AM | link
Not being pro or negative casino gambling - just something to point out:
If you throw out the Racino places which only offer VLT gambling - which are stupid no skill wastes of space and aren't even entertaining much less fun - then you can see that the Capital District is actually underserved without a gaming facility with a 90-100 minute drive that exists today or is in process (Springfield).
Those people that are interested in skilled gaming (poker, certain table games) and are not interested in putting money in a one armed bandit, wasting money on scratch offs and lotto games (a tax on those who are bad at math) really have no way to get their gaming entertainment done without driving to Turning Stone (110 miles) or Foxwoods/Mohegan (2.5 hours), Akwesasne (4 hours), Niagara Falls (4.5 Hours) Atlantic City (4.5 Hours), Mount Airy (3 Hours) ....
Doesn't look like a glut for this area...
... said Bill on Jul 1, 2014 at 1:39 PM | link
I think this map highlights that NY/the Northeast market is pretty much oversaturated even prior to the expansion of full-scale/non-indian casinos this year. For one thing,
I can imagine that the various VLT facilities in NY are going to be begging for bailouts from the State in 5-10 years after the four casinos are eventually built. I also wonder if this new casino competition (within NY or from neighboring States) will lead to the current indian casinos losing business and then demanding money or bailouts from the State to stay afloat.
It definitely appears as if NY is on track to build so many casinos that many of them will be unable to sustain themselves in the long-term as some people lose interest in making a trip to spend a day at a casino resort (like Turning Stone) if they can simply drive 15 minutes in any direction and run into one. I feel this is essentially what happened to the harness tracks/OTB in the past 30-40 years as they lost out to competition from other types of gambling as people saw no reason to spend the day betting on horses.
... said abc on Jul 1, 2014 at 3:04 PM | link
Casinos do very little except siphon away Social Security dollars and the income of the working class to some large corporation or group of investors. Only a small fraction goes to new jobs (which are typically service-level and low paying) or the community as a whole.
It's pretty sad when a region is reduced to begging for casinos as the only feasible hope of economic growth.
... said TheGambler0111 on Jul 3, 2014 at 2:35 PM | link