Casinos

[Been Jammin]

First, a little background on me. Born and raised in OKC. Graduated HS and spent the next 8 years of my life in Stillwater, then moved to Dallas and have been here for nearly 24 years. Since my first visit to Vegas (shortly after high school), I have been a sucker for a good casino. Enjoy vacationing in places where they are easily accessible. Have a tough time resisting the temptation to spend the majority of my time in the casino when I go on a family cruise. My mother and sister live in Vegas, and they say that when it is always around, it loses its pull and they hardly ever go to a casino...which makes a lot of sense to me.

On Friday night, I had to drop my daughter off at a leadership conference in Norman. I had made arrangements to meet a buddy at the Riverwind Casino to play some poker. Had a great time. Won a bit of money. Prior to that, I had never been in an Oklahoma casino. I did note, that between the Red River and the Riverwind, I passed 3-4 other casinos, which seemed like a lot.

During my drive home, I was thinking about the Oklahoma casinos and some questions popped into my mind that I don't know the answers to. I figured one of you might, so here goes.

I know Texas has had some discussion about legalizing gambling. Does it seem like it was a smart move to do so in Oklahoma? I know the casinos draw a lot of Texas money (and I'm sure money from other bordering states) into Oklahoma, so that has to be beneficial to the economy.

What about creation of jobs? I'm sure the casinos provide jobs to a huge number of workers. How impactful are they on the unemployment rate? Do the employees make good money for the most part? Or, could they earn similar wages working at Braums or Walmart?

Who is making the money off of the casinos? Are the Native American tribes reaping huge rewards? The state? Someone else? Are they hugely profitable like the casinos in Vegas?

Are there issues with increased gambling addiction? Are people having to go to rehab or ending up homeless because casinos are easily accessible?

Has crime increased in areas near casinos? Are thieves looking for easy money to go blow in the casinos? Has drug use in those areas increased? Is there an organized crime element controlling the casinos?

None of this is especially important information that I need for any other reason than to satisfy my curiosity. Except that someday, i figure the topic of legalized gambling will be up for serious debate again in Texas, and I might want to know the answers to some of these questions. Thanks in advance.

 

[FMPoke]

Gambling was never legalized in Oklahoma. The tribes won the right in court to operate casinos on their land and reach some kind of pact with the State of Oklahoma. (read paid them off not to continue the legal fight). The tribes make huge money. How that money get's distributed as far as flowing down to the masses I have no idea. As a side note the Casino business in Vegas isn't that profitable these days. The two biggest companies Creasers and MGM are both in financial trouble. At this point I would say the State of Oklahoma is addicted to the revenue. Yes it's sucks huge money from Texas.

As for your questions on gambling I'm sure it's no different then any place else. All that money comes from somewhere and adults make bad decisions. A lot of jobs have been created. For Thackerville, Ok the money is probably above average.

 

[NeekReevers]

It generates enough income that the Osage Tribe just bought Ted Turner's 46,000 acres of prime ranch land in Osage County.

I enjoy gambling, but I hate the fact that it is so widespread in Oklahoma. People are adults and I guess if they didn't blow it in casinos they'd blow it somewhere else but I can't help but think the overall economic benefit to the state will be a net negative in the long run.

 

[squeak]

I have never been to an Oklahoma casino. I think it would ruin my urge to go to Vegas (although it seems to be less and less about gambling these days).

 

[frankeaton]

I have two daughters that receive about $700 a quarter from the Otoe tribe

 

[Been Jammin]

I have two daughters that receive about $700 a quarter from the Otoe tribe

For?

 

[100TonsofOrangeFury]

For?

Clothes, makeup, new iphone

 

[Been Jammin]

I have two daughters that receive about $700 a quarter from the Otoe tribe

Let me rephrase (just for Tons).

In exchange for what?

 

[100TonsofOrangeFury]

Let me rephrase (just for Tons).

In exchange for what?

I don't believe I like the tone of your inquiry, sir.

 

[CBradSmith]

Lol

 

[FMPoke]

Let me rephrase (just for Tons).

In exchange for what?

Distributions of funds as members of the tribe. The tribe owns the Casinos or other property and eventually a portion of the profits get distributed out to the members.

 

[Orange Jennyslipper]

As promised by the pro-casino forces before the vote to approve casinos, taxes on casino profits provide a huge windfall for Oklahoma public schools. Our local school system received a new pencil sharpener and a nice sweater for the superintendent.

A tribe is building a casino in the city limits of Perry. Looks to be about the size of a convenience store. It's north of the central business district, so I anticipate an influx of tourists from Ceres and Tonkawa.

Glad I don't live in town.

 

[cactusjackosu]

I drive by the Ioway tribe casino west of Chandler on 66 a few times a week. The place is smaller than a dollar general, but they are adding on! I guess the farmers in the area spend there days there.

 

[HighStickHarry]

I don't get slot machines. Wtf could be entertaining about pushing one button over and over? I'm at the hard rock right now for the Hank Jr. concert and I get the drinking and the craps and the cards but the popularity of slots just confuses me.

 

[Been Jammin]

I don't get slot machines. Wtf could be entertaining about pushing one button over and over? I'm at the hard rock right now for the Hank Jr. concert and I get the drinking and the craps and the cards but the popularity of slots just confuses me.

Totally agree. At least with poker/craps/table games, there is a social aspect. At slots, you just sit there by yourself and don't talk to anyone. Maybe that is what is appealing for some people. Not my thing.

 

[HighStickHarry]

On a side note there are about ten people living that I would pay money to see in concert and Hank was awesome. I've seen him at the tumbleweed and Cheyenne frontier days also. He can smoke the guitar, fiddle and piano. When I am his age there won't be anyone alive that I actually enjoy their music.

 

[Poketologist]

Totally agree. At least with poker/craps/table games, there is a social aspect. At slots, you just sit there by yourself and don't talk to anyone. Maybe that is what is appealing for some people. Not my thing.

That's exactly what I do. Once every five years or so I go to a 3-4 day-long conference at a Vegas or Gulf Coast casino where I sit in a meeting room with 100 other docs listening to "experts" drone on about cancer or reflux or heart failure or whatever.

After meetings I sit on my ass on a stool in front of a slot machine and get hammered on free cocktails while I spend no more than 20 bucks pushing buttons. Repeat it again nightly until the conference is over and my liver is in pain. Yes, that's how your doctors get their continuing education.

 

[NeekReevers]

I think the draw of slots is the big payoff. For the most part, I am a blackjack player and play the occasional craps game and some slots. Slots are the only game in the casino where you can bet $1 and win $10000. Additionally, I think a lot of people are intimidated to walk up to a table for the first time. Slots are a stupid bet but so is the lottery and it pulls in enough to pay out a billion dollar jackpot.