The Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) recently published an article A Question of a Casino in their Insider newsletter summarizing their research into economic impacts of a casino. Their findings echo those cited by the Downtown Kingston! B.I.A. in recent weeks.
The article notes:
…when the visitor base is drawn from the local area it is more likely there will be negative impacts on other local businesses and revenue growth in the facility is at the expense of the local businesses. It becomes tougher for the local area to prosper when casino concepts house gamblers offering them incentives including complimentary rooms and free meals. A casino not able to draw outside traffic just becomes a one stop shop for local visitors taking share away from local restaurants. Moreover when anticipated demand in meeting room business does not materialize, then existing local meeting facilities experience dilution of existing events and conferences as a casino facility draws its business from within the local market.
This opinion mirrors that of the B.I.A. As has been previously reported in the media, the Downtown Kingston! B.I.A. Board of Directors, after extensive research and review of independent and peer reviewed studies, concluded there are no positive economic benefits to host communities from “urban convenience casinos”, who are dependent on the local community for their revenue. The B.I.A Board voted unanimously (one abstention) to recommend that City Council turn down the possibility of hosting a casino in any part of the City of Kingston.
ORHMA is an organization dedicated to fostering a positive business climate for Ontario’s hospitality industry.
Thanks to s_falcow for the picture associated with this release.
