Reports indicate that Ontario's Premier Dalton McGuinty has received recommendations that the province create "alternative sites" away from racetracks for citizens to partake in a slot and gaming experience
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In a Toronto Star exclusive, economist Don Drummond discusses his role fronting a commission on the public service sector where he will offer recommendations on ways to raise money and where to make cuts. According to The Star, one suggestion could impact the harness racing industry's highly-regarded slots-at-racetracks program.
"It recommends that Ontarians play slots at “alternative sites” to racetracks so they won’t have to hike out of town to play. Wine, beer and liquor prices would go up and stores would have “anti-zapper” software installed in cash registers to stop the practice of hiding sales from tax collectors by deleting selected sales."
McGuinty has reiterated on multiple occasions that Drummond's role is merely to “advise” while the Premier's obligation is to “decide.”
In the province of Quebec,
In the province of Quebec, there is slots machines in pretty much every bars. That's a very good idea, especially if you want to get rid of horse racing...
This is a definite concern,
This is a definite concern, I would also be quite concerned with the topic of online gambling, the OLG is getting ready for a benchmark.
If something like this were
If something like this were to happen why wouldn't the racing industry try and attach itself to change by pushing to have off track betting along with the slot machines. Lobby so that racetracks who have simulcast locations can use those venues for slots as well. Could we also as a collective drop the old fashion word of "parlour" when refer to gambling. Come up with a better buzz word that welcomes gambling into a more contemporary light. How about the "Nexus".
This is something i thought
This is something i thought would happen and will. The horse people will be cut out of the equation resulting in more profits for the government!
I like the slots at the
I like the slots at the track. It gives us people that have to stay at track all afternoon or evening, while their horses are racing something to do. So you work and play at same time.
Horse Racing paid the price
Horse Racing paid the price for many years as the pioneers of legalized gambling. Then came the leglization of the Slots and horse racing paved the way for their entrance into the general public. By means of the user agreements in place it allowed the Horse Racing industry to profit from the efforts made by the fore fathers of racing. This also allowed many rural communities to improve their infrastructure and profit within their communities rather than relying on government funding for such improvements as Hospital care and local business thrived and jobs were secured within the slot facilities and in the communities.
These facilities and the communities these facilities have helped build, will become ghost towns if slot parlours start popping up on every street corner. Did McGuinty think there will be such a huge increase in the slot revenue by putting them everywhere you look?? Has he considered the costs incurred, policing, security, "anti-zappers, and crime rate in general?? There is only so much "spendable" income out there and I feel the tracks have kept the customer satified for an outlet. McGuinty will come in and save the day by increasing the welfare checks, then looking at the slot increase and say, "see I told you it would increase." In the meantime there will be 65,000 Ontario horsepeople looking for a job, rural communities will be once again looking for assistance and the government will be taking all that "extra" money and pouring it in to the urban areas that already have many avenues for economic growth. All the while Live Horse Racing will become a thing of the past, and who were the pioneers of gambling???
I have no issues with more
I have no issues with more locations for slots, so long as a track goes with every new slot parlour. Lets start with Belleville! Other sites that had tracks, Orangeville, Goderich, and why not Markham Fair, a full summer meet east of the 400 on a half mile track! Wait, Markham does not want racing, Part Perry it is, already have the slots.
When this all started the
When this all started the cities did not want slots because of crime etc. When they saw how much the rural communities were benefiting from the slots rewards they suddenly became interested!. It is working the way it is. If not broke, don't fix, period.