Bricktown Casino

[Kerry]

It sound Moondog also described the average Lottery player also. If the state can take advantage of these people why can't Indians?

[Midtowner]

Kerry:

It's because the state is doing it "for the children."

If the Indians were to attack this state-protected monopoly, it would, in truth take money away from our public schools -- money which in large part is already being depended on to service debt taken on as a result of bonds taken out by our higher ed system.

The bottom line is that any disruption to that income stream could be a serious problem for the state.

[ChristianConservative]

I don't think Bricktown would be the appropriate place for a casino. Bricktown needs to have a unique atmosphere, unlike any found anywhere else. I think the Oklahoma River would be a nice place for a casino district, possibly with a couple of mock casino boats over the water.

[OKCNDN]

The Natives of this state are preparing for the future of oklahoma-style gaming. Sure it's not quite the vegas-style gaming but it will get there and get there soon. There is no doubt that this "pay-to-play" requirement will not last.

Class III gaming is already here and the full class III gaming on every game is on the way. The state of Oklahoma has backed away from EVERY gaming restriction it has every placed on the tribes, EVERY one of them. Once the state begins to see how much money they can make off of the state-compacted games they will cave in, they always have whether by choice or by mandate.

If there is a bad feeling of the gambling behavior remember that the gaming will take place in a closed building not out in the open. It will happen out of view. Casino's are much more pro-active in checking id's and keeping out minors than are any adult-oriented establishment in Oklahoma.

Gaming regulations have just changed to allow the tribes to believe in the longevity of gaming. Before the changes in the laws the tribes did not know if they would be allowed to continue to conduct gaming businesses. Would you invest $10 million in a business if you didn't know if your business would be legal in 6 months?

The tribes are just now starting to build facilities that are worthy of visiting. Those old tin buildings are being replaced by very nice facilities.

Some of the nicest Harrah's casino's are Native-run.

If an outside company comes to OKC to build a casino don't you realize that any profits will be leaving the state? The only way to ensure that profits stay in state would be to have a tribal casino. The tribes aren't going anywhere ala Phillips. The tribes did a great job in building an entire industry in Oklahoma that did not exist at all 20 years ago.

[ChristianConservative]

I personally think we've expanded gambling enough in this state. No need for anymore. The market is becoming over saturated. We don't want to turn Oklahoma City into Las Vegas.

[Midtowner]

Yeah because the Las Vegas economy is terrible.

[ChristianConservative]

Yeah because the Las Vegas economy is terrible.

No because Las Vegas has developed itself as the casino megatropolis. Why copy? Let's be unique for once.

[johnnyboyokc]

here is what i want to say is Brad Henry is our gov because of the economy...there is no way istook could of beat him...i would even have told him so....But he is for the people....brad henry brad henry....he is a great gov...dont you agree.....askins kicked ....but enough about government (oh that is what this is all about HA hA) indians.....a casino in bricktown would hurt the entertainment that is in place already.....casinos will keep people inside instead of club hoping and restaurant hoping....also indian casinos can pay more for entertainment than the bricktown clubs aND RESTAURANTS AGREE
..

[Midtowner]

johhny, I more-less agree. I think a casino physically in Bricktown would detract from the 'family' type environment that you're trying to create there. Further, I think it would hurt other businesses.

What I think *might* work is having a casino on the river and running a water taxi all the way out there. Allow the casino to have its own separate parking, but make it accessible to all of the hotel guests, etc. who will be staying in Bricktown for conventions.

The more entertainment options there are, the better the draw will be for big money convention and tourist business.

[johnnyboyokc]

your damn right............................

[mranderson]

Yeah because the Las Vegas economy is terrible.

I am not sure if you are being sarcastic, however, in case you are serious... That is a bunch of b.s. The Las Vegas economy is thriving. Always has, always will... Why? Because they know how to attract people.

[Midtowner]

I am not sure if you are being sarcastic, however, in case you are serious... That is a bunch of b.s. The Las Vegas economy is thriving. Always has, always will... Why? Because they know how to attract people.

Yeah, it was sarcasm...

Las Vegas has one of the fastest growing (if not the fastest growing) economies in the country.

[Theo Walcott]

as a levelheaded resident, I can say without reservation that there is absolutely NO reason whatsoever that we cannot legalize full-scale Vegas gambling for both private and tribal entities in this state.

construction of casinos would have to occur within properly zoned areas (done at the municipal level), and in OKC's case, an area along the canal would be PERFECT. OKC is in a prime position of economic geostrategery in that it is centrally located, and could in fact impinge upon the Vegas market with the proper foresight, marketing, and development initiatives.

The Wynns, Maloofs, Harrah's, and others would absolutely be interested in such a project. you legalize it wholesale, and then regulate it at the municipal level. such a move could really throw the economy into an unprecedented direction, and OKC could become the fastest growing community in the entire country.

get it done, sooner rather than later!

[SoonerDave]

If it takes a full-scale casino to make us the "fastest growing community in the entire country," I will be delighted to live without that title.

Keep Bricktown casino-free.

-SoonerDave

[Midtowner]

If it takes a full-scale casino to make us the "fastest growing community in the entire country," I will be delighted to live without that title.

Keep Bricktown casino-free.

-SoonerDave

SD: Not many people are suggesting casinos in Bricktown.

[SoonerDave]

Midtowner -

I think the post just above mine was talking about putting one on the canal.

-SoonerDave

[BDP]

construction of casinos would have to occur within properly zoned areas (done at the municipal level),

You might have to teach our munciple leaders what zoning means first.

The Wynns, Maloofs, Harrah's, and others would absolutely be interested in such a project.

Wasn't the DiBartolos of 49er fame trying to get gambling legalized here about 10 years ago?

I'm not sure if gambling is as big a deal as it used to be. Most Americans all live within a days drive of a casino. I think having real gambling, as opposed to our pay-to-play gambling would be a bigger draw than it is now, but I can't see it making us the fastest growing economy in the country whether SD wants it or not.

Vegas draws because you can do ANYTHING there and it's all done in excess. It is an international marvel. It would have to be done in grand style here for it to have a large impact. It's not like your Shreveports and Tunica's are taking over the world and they do have some nice properties.

[Midtowner]

Midtowner -

I think the post just above mine was talking about putting one on the canal.

-SoonerDave

I stand corrected. Didn't catch that. Along the river, maybe -- or on an as-yet undeveloped part of the canal -- that I could see.

In bricktown? I don't think that's very likely.

[indymusic]

At the risk of getting flamed on here, I wanted to throw in my 2¢.

I'm completely opposed to casinos in our downtown area.

OKC has too much going for it to implode itself in that way. I travel all around the country for a living, so I've experienced Vegas and Atlantic City and Mississippi and "fill in the blank" first hand many times....they're all fine for entertainment, but do we really want to see OKC become such a one dimensional and fragmented place? ....or a great place to visit, but a terrible place to live? That's exactly how I'd describe those places. I know there are people that love those places...and people that live in those places...and people who will disagree with me, but to me it's more of a social fabric question.
I no more want to be a "casino" city than an "oil" town. Diversify and grow up into an urban center we can be proud of. A place for our families and children to experience culture. Do we really want casinos to dominate our city center? Are we looking towards the quick dollar or towards the long term impact on our city's culture? I never want us to be known as a "What happens in OKC stays in OKC" kind of place and I sincerely believe that is the legitimate outcome of the this path.

[sooners83]

I think it would be cool to have a casino in bricktown or North OKC. I only go to the casinos to play poker and since Remington Park can't have cards I don't go to the one casino in the city.

[metro]

I don't think we'll see a casino in Bricktown/downtown although I could be wrong. There would be too many hurdles to jump through.

[Kerry]

I come and go on the whole idea. I like playing roulette but I prefer to do it in someone elses city. Next time you are in Vegas drive off the "strip" a few miles and see if that is what you have in mind for OKC. I was out there a few months ago and out of boredom took the shuttle out to Sam's Town. We passed many strip centers with makeshift casinos in them and homeless looking people not of US orgin hanging out aroud the enterance. Throw in all of the porno fliers and I don't think a casino "district" near downtown would be a good idea. Vegas tried to clean up the porn and couldn't do it. You can't be family friendly and adult oriented at the same time.

[BDP]

I don't really have any desire to have the casinos downtown, but I don't think they destroy towns or create bad neighborhoods. I know that we have bad neighborhoods without casinos and I know that Vegas has had more nice neighborhoods built (Summerlin, Red Rock, etc.) and even urban development (lots of condo towers and now City Center) in it in the last ten years than we have despite their gambling economy. But Vegas is way more than just its gambling these days. So, it's hard to really compare or to guesstimate what the impact impact on Oklahoma City.

I just like the way our downtown is headed, as modest as its improvements have been. I don't think we need gambling to spur any development there at this point, so I wouldn't hit that panic button just yet. I do kind of like the proposal in NE OKC, simply because it's a full blown luxury development and I don't think there's anyway we get something that nice without a casino attached to it at this point and with it being miles outside of downtown, I don't think it would impact the hotels there that bad.

At the end of the day, however, I'm not sure that Oklahoma style Indian gaming is really that competitive or that big of a draw. You can still do Vegas on the cheap, have more entertainment options and have much better gaming that's strictly regulated. I think that some casinos have helped draw from the border states via our highways and that's fine. But before I supported any gaming downtown, I'd want it to be something that would fill the airport at least on the weekends and I just don't see any casino doing that in Oklahoma with our current gaming rules.

[chuckdiesel]

I come and go on the whole idea. I like playing roulette but I prefer to do it in someone elses city. Next time you are in Vegas drive off the "strip" a few miles and see if that is what you have in mind for OKC. I was out there a few months ago and out of boredom took the shuttle out to Sam's Town. We passed many strip centers with makeshift casinos in them and homeless looking people not of US orgin hanging out aroud the enterance. Throw in all of the porno fliers and I don't think a casino "district" near downtown would be a good idea. Vegas tried to clean up the porn and couldn't do it. You can't be family friendly and adult oriented at the same time.

Those fliers are a result of their stance on prostitution not gambling. And we are talking about one casino not an entire city built on gambling and adult activities. And I would wager that parts of OKC are just as bad as bad parts of vegas, it has nothing to do with casinos.

[OKCNDN]

Those fliers are a result of their stance on prostitution not gambling. And we are talking about one casino not an entire city built on gambling and adult activities. And I would wager that parts of OKC are just as bad as bad parts of vegas, it has nothing to do with casinos.

Even the bad parts of OKC aren't as bad as the bad parts of other cities. You still do not want to be caught in the bad OKC parts but they aren't as bad as other cities by far.

Gambling and prostitution go hand in hand. There are prostitutes in Oklahoma casino's. I was coming out of Newcastle and there was a very nice looking older white lady in her late 30's. We talked for a bit then she said "you like white girls?" and pointed to a carload of young blonde white chicks in the parking lot. Did gambling bring them here? Who knows but prostitution has been here far longer than gambling. When the oil was going on there was prostitution. Heck you could bring in a fortune 500 company and prostitution would follow it. Dell has probably contributed to the prostitution thing in OKC. Bass Pro has probably contributed to prostitution in OKC. Bring in a big-time church and prostitution would follow it (though not to the extent of other types of businesses). Where money is prostitution follows, guaranteed.