Game on
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ANR
The energy at Fonner Park was palpable last week when the Grand Island Casino opened its doors, ushering in a new era of entertainment to central Nebraska.
As is the nature of the beast when it comes to gambling, however, there will be some winners and some losers over time. In a broader sense, there are pros and cons that could impact the area, including Hamilton County businesses and residents, in a variety of ways.
Twenty months after Nebraskans voted to allow casino gaming at the state’s horse racing tracks, the vibe at the new temporary Elite Casino Resort adjacent to the Fonner Park race track was all positive. Hundreds of people showed up for opening day, eager to try their luck and/or check out the atmosphere.
Elite Casino Resort’s CEO projected daily revenue of at least $90,000, 20 percent of which will be earmarked for the state’s gaming tax. Of that, 70 percent will go into a fund that will provide relief to the state’s property taxpayers. When all the state’s new casinos, which at this point include WarHorse in Lincoln and Elite in Grand Island, add up their totals that could grow to be a significant sum.
The list of sure winners also includes the horse racing industry, including horsemen, who will get a cut of the daily take based on Fonner Park’s unique agreement with Elite Casinos. The City of Grand Island and Hall County will each get a small percentage, as will the state general fund and compulsive gamblers assistance fund.
That’s the silver lining.
That last beneficiary is a reminder that gambling has a dark side as well, in that the odds of winning are slim. Gambling is a personal choice, obviously, and our hope is that a majority of those who play are using discretionary income, not tapping into the family’s primary budget hoping to beat the odds and change their lives. Those statistics are harder if not impossible to track, but the concern is real.
Another concern is the ripple effect a major new industry could have on the region’s employment. There simply aren’t enough people to fill the jobs available in the area now, thus a high-profile company able to recruit quality employees with high wages and good benefits could have a ripple effect far beyond the Grand Island city limits.
Time will tell what all the impact will be, but it’s a safe bet that traffic will be brisk for those who enjoy slot machines as a form of entertainment.
Kurt Johnson
