Position statement

During the rapid growth of casinos in the '90s, Gollehon actively promoted his concept of casino "clustering" to aid both casino owners and players. The general scattering of casinos today, particularly in low population centers, results in fewer options for serious players and may, eventually, create financial stresses for "isolated" casino owners. Clustering, as in other industries such as fast-food, attracts more customers from a wider base. Tunica is a good example of clustering and the successes that can result.

The fallacies and social problems of gaming, particularly as the venues spread into smaller markets are striking. In smaller locales, gaming has a harmful tendency to pull income from within its own market, as opposed to major gaming venues drawing outside income from regional or national markets.

I share the concern of gaming author/psychologist Marvin Karlins that the flawed concept of "themed," family-oriented Las Vegas casinos makes gaming socially acceptable to impressionable children. It’s the Joe Camel syndrome. They see their parents gambling; they see gambling in a luxurious, respectable light. Similarly, I’m particularly annoyed at Indian casinos in or near college towns where the age limits have been lowered to 18 to "accommodate" students.

The marketing ploy of casinos today, particularly toward the elderly is, perhaps, my greatest concern. (1) Casinos know that social security checks come early in the month and they plan for that with special bus trips and promotions. (2) It’s not unusual for a casino to open only one or two windows for cashing chips, coins, or tokens, which means long lines to stand in. The result is that many players go back to the tables or the machines, and end up with nothing to cash in. (3) Table-minimum bets are raised on weekends and other busy times. The ratio of slot machine coin values are often changed to encourage players to bet more. (4) Comps, (free gifts, free rooms, etc.) particularly for slot players, are carefully designed to encourage "extended play," as the casino calls it, and to force players to come back soon for redemption of coupons for free gifts or free plays.

Gambling promotes the "get something for nothing" mentality that is primarily targeted to lower-income families. It goes against the grain of a most important character trait that should develop within the family unit: a strong work ethic. "You work, you earn" is being replaced by "You play, you get lucky."

Gaming across the U.S., particularly Tribal gaming, has caused Las Vegas to rethink its product. The main attraction is no longer gaming, it is world-class dining, entertainment, and shopping, not to mention those pretentious resorts, which are an attraction themselves. And it’s all fueled by the thousands who come for conventions and trade shows, most of whom are not players, but "watchers." Surprisingly, casino bosses today don’t seem to care.

Every department makes money. Casino resorts no longer can rely on their casinos to cover RFB losses. As the new gaming markets close in on Las Vegas—Palm Springs, as an example—Vegas will undergo a huge shakeout of underperforming resorts. Not surprisingly, it may be the casinos, once again, to the rescue.