Philly Casino Applicants Approach the Finish Line.

The last set of hearings of the 5 Philadelphia applicants for the 2nd casino license is this week. It will be held at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Each of them will give assessments

of what they can bring to Philadelphia.
The jobs, additional taxes, special services to the neighborhood and groups surrounding them and the prospect of expanding the market. They will also bring various projections of revenue.

I have followed this process since the Foxwoods Project was denied an extension on their proposal to build a casino here. I have also worked in 3 markets than have opened urban gaming. Major cities that have open casinos with staggering results.  Each of the organizations, that I am proud to have on my resume, lived up to the plans and forecasts they presented.

This group is faced with some challenges. Things that were not factors with at the opening of the casinos in two of my prior places of employment.

First is the economy. This is still a rough time for a lot of people. Many are barely making ends meet. Unemployment is still high with the prospect of benefits being reduced. Business are downsizing and it some cases, consolidating. More mergers and layoffs. Is this the most ideal time to open a venue that is dependent on disposable income?

Second is the fact that whoever gets the bid is SECOND. The truth is that whoever enters the market will have to face the comparison to the present operators in the region and cannibalize the revenue to some level. The amount of people of legal gaming age will not expand
simply because another place opens it's doors.
Marketing ,quality leadership and a sound business model will be keys to expanding the gaming populous.

Third and finally is location. I am familiar with each proposal. If you are not, I would suggest you go to planphilly.com or philly.com for articles by Kellie Patrick Gates,Suzette Parmley or Harold Brubaker. I will refrain from giving my opinion on which site has the best location. I will ask you to imagine any business that rely largely on people coming by cars opening in any area where parking is a premium. Each place that I worked was near an interstate or highway, close to a water or part of a existing development that was accented by their presence.

I wish each applicant well with their presentations. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will make a prudent decision.

                                                   AND THE WINNER IS?

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