Table Games Now By  Eric Lewis

The current economic recession has been very real for Jefferson County residents. Everyone knows someone who lost their job and may even be at risk of losing their home. In the past few months, the issue of bringing table games to Charles Town Races & Slots (CTRS) has generated both excitement and confusion among Jefferson County residents. With all the information available, one thing is clear: Table games at CTRS are a solution for today’s needs and an investment in Jefferson County’s future.

The economic benefits of table games are undeniable. With the unemployment rate nearly doubling over the past year, table games position Jefferson County to increase the number of jobs for county residents. Jefferson County is looking at adding over 500 new, local jobs as a result of table games at CTRS. Jobs will not be outsourced to neighboring states, as the company has pledged to hire locally, with Jefferson County residents and current employees getting first dibs. Their track record speaks for itself: almost 90 percent of CTRS employees live in the Eastern Panhandle, and 65 percent of them live in Jefferson County. Training will be provided on site at CTRS for all new table games employees.

The addition of table games means nearly $6.5 million to Jefferson County annually. Schools would receive nearly $4 million of that, every year. $1.3 million would go to the county to pay for services like emergency responders and funding economic development initiatives like research into green industries. An additional $1.3 million would go to municipalities. The estimated annual disbursements to the municipalities (based on W.Va. Lottery projections) are: $160,322 to Bolivar; $446,115 to Charles Town; $47,116 to Harpers Ferry; $452,827 to Ranson; and $184,461 to Shepherdstown.

The fact is that if the money doesn’t come from CTRS gaming revenues, it will come out of the pockets of Jefferson County residents. Schools, county government, and municipalities will all need to operate one way or another, and unwelcome suggestions like increased property taxes or more county fees could become a grim reality if there isn’t another source of money for these necessities.

A “yes” vote for table games on December 5 is not only a vote for the current need for jobs, but, the future economic development of Jefferson County. Our neighboring states see the prosperity of CTRS and would gladly take the money away from West Virginia. Maryland and Pennsylvania are actively expanding their gaming footprint. Marylanders approved slots last November, and Pennsylvania is now debating the details of new table games legislation. The impact of rejecting table games in Jefferson County has serious financial consequences for both today and tomorrow. The outcome of the December 5 election is just as much about protecting what we have as it is about growing our economic opportunity. Nelson Parkinson of the Holiday Inn Express said it best: “The Occupancy ratings for both the Inn of Charles Town and the Holiday Inn Express will increase significantly with the introduction of table games to the area. This will increase revenues for the owners and tax revenue for the local economy. Both properties will also see an increase in jobs for area residents.”

All economic issues aside, concern that expanding table games to Charles Town Races & Slots would make our county the next Atlantic City is ridiculous. State legislation allows only one casino in the county, at the current racetrack. The addition of other casinos would require a legislative vote — and another referendum by Jefferson County voters. That’s not going to happen.

Finally, the existence of CTRS is important to our agricultural community. With a thriving horse racing industry, farmers in this county have been able to sustain many of our family farms, including the many horse farms. The impact of horse racing on local farms and open space has been immense, from hay sales to horse boarding. The expansion of table games would provide an additional $4.8 million annually to purses and breeders funds, plus the added revenues from increased slot play. This in turn fuels the need for hay, pasture land, and other agricultural support services from our county’s farms.

When we vote on December 5, we’re not just saying yes to bring table games: We’re saying yes to more jobs; we’re saying yes to more funding for schools and infrastructure; we’re saying yes to keeping Jefferson County’s future competitive. If you still have doubts about all that I’ve written, please know that there is a recall provision in the legislation. If table games do not meet the expectations of this community, we can hold a recall referendum of the privilege in five years.

There’s no better opportunity to invest in Jefferson County’s present and future than to vote “yes” for table games on December 5.

Table Games Will Cost JobsBy Lynn Welsh

Casino promoters promise 500 jobs if table games passes. They carefully omit any details of these jobs. Why? Most of the jobs will be low-paying entry-level jobs such as hotel maids, janitors, waitresses, cashiers, and security guards. If you happen to have experience, chances are you’ll be rejected as over-qualified for these entry level positions — just ask those who’ve applied in the past.

Many of these positions will eventually be filled by young adults from foreign countries, as they have before. Foreign workers are a favorite of the casinos; they don’t have to pay these “externs” overtime or benefits. Many dealer jobs will not necessarily be new jobs for current citizens of Jefferson County because trained dealers will be transferred in from other areas.

How did the promise of jobs actually hold up at Mountaineer Park Racetrack? Since table games were introduced, there have been three sets of layoffs totaling over 300 positions. Table gambling was a big reason why purses were cut for the horsemen, since horsemen only get 60 cents per $100 of revenue for table games in comparison to $14 per $100 for slots.

Can you imagine how this will affect our county’s horse related jobs?

According to the TRA economic impact study published in 2006, the thoroughbred farming industry in the Eastern Panhandle supports over 3,600 jobs related to the local horse industry — grooms, jockeys, trainers, vets, blacksmiths, farmers, etc. With a decrease of purse revenue, these jobs are at risk. No money, no jobs.

Table gaming promoters paint a rosy picture of jobs here in Jefferson County, but the impact of table games at Mountaineer Park had completely opposite results.

Vote no on December 5th.

Table Games: Can the Promises Be Kept? By James Acly

In the classic movie 12 Angry Men Henry Fonda pays a lone juror questioning an apparent open-and-shut murder case. In the jury room he questions each witness’s account—testimony that had convinced the other 11 jurors of the defendant’s sure guilt. Each witness’s story falls apart one by one. As well, each juror comes to see that his initial vote was a mistake.

We should ask similar questions about the many claims being made in support of table games.

1. If expanded gambling is so good for our economy, why did Warren Buffett — America’s most successful capitalist — oppose legalization of casinos in his home state of Nebraska? Buffett rejects the idea that casinos bring economic development, pointing out that money spent on gambling is money lost to the local economy. He says, “Net, it’s a big loser for the citizenry.” See the interview online at www.votenotablegames.org.

2. Proponents say table games are good for our local businesses. In 2005 the Nebraska Economics and Business Association studied the effect of casinos in Iowa on four years of retail sales taxes to measure business sales. Iowa cities with casinos had tax revenue growth 80 percent lower than similarly sized Iowa cities with no casinos: 3.3-percent growth in cities with casinos versus 16.7-percent growth in cities without casinos. As Warren Buffett said, gambling drains a local economy because each casino dollar is a dollar not spent at local businesses.

3. The rosy predictions of table games generating money for our schools and local governments are based on Penn National’s earning projections. What are the economic assumptions those projections are based on? Do they accurately reflect the slowdown in our national economy? Do they reflect the slowdown in the growth in gambling revenues seen across the country? Do they reflect competition from Pennsylvania and Maryland?

A September 9, 2009, New York Times article reported state tax revenue losses caused by the decline in gambling earnings nationwide: Illinois gambling tax dollars were down $166 million in the last fiscal year; Nevada lost $122 million; and New Jersey lost $62 million. The September 11, 2009, Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Nevada gaming money has declined for 19 months straight. Connecticut’s Foxwoods casino, one of the country’s largest and most successful casinos, reportedly faces a $1.45-billion default from a decline in revenues due to the poor economy and competition. According to the Times article, experts now question whether the industry is reaching market saturation.

On-line gambling (illegal under current law) poses an additional new threat to brick-and-mortar casinos, with national brands like Harrah’s recognizing that internet gambling may be the future of the industry and lobbying for its legalization.

These are national trends that must be figured into the assumptions of tax benefits for Jefferson County. The assumed millions for our schools require it. Or, will short tax revenues, market saturation, and competition from Pennsylvania and Maryland casinos erode the rosy assumption? With Las Vegas revenues down 11.1 percent this year, should Charles Town assume it can out-perform The Strip?

4. Does anyone remember the City of Charles Town’s draft comprehensive plan unveiled in 2006? It included a vast “Entertainment District,” hundreds of acres stretching 1.5 miles from the race track along Rt. 340 to Marlowe Road. The city dropped this and other features of its plan after widespread citizen outcry. Coincidentally, around the same time, a top Penn National executive reportedly told our county commissioners of his vision to transform Charles Town into another Branson, Mo., except this would be a Branson with casino gambling. If that “vision” prompted Charles Town’s Entertainment District, will it be dusted off and brought back to life if table games are approved? Is that the future you want to see for Charles Town and Jefferson County?

5. Two years ago Penn National touted its plans to build a 500-room casino hotel to loom over Charles Town. Curiously, they are not saying much about the hotel this time around. Aren’t Jefferson County voters entitled to know how Penn National plans to develop its property — both the 500-room casino hotel on the race track property and the 100-plus acres where Shenandoah Downs once stood — before they decide how to vote?

6. Shouldn’t local merchants understand what kinds of stores, restaurants and arcades will be brought in to compete against them?

If these questions have made you stop and think about your vote, and you would like to know more, please visit www.VoteNoTableGames.org.

Myth of Coattail Casino Economics By Debbie Royalty

It is wishful thinking on the part of local businesses that gamblers who travel to play table games are going to go anywhere else but straight to the casino to gamble, eat, drink, and sleep. There’s no evidence to support any tourism coattail benefit; claims of economic impact are contradicted by gambling interest’s own executives.

Who would know better than one of America’s most successful casino developers, Steve Wynn, how casinos will affect their communities? In 1992 he told a group of Bridgeport, Connecticut business people not to count on his proposed gambling enterprise for much help. “There is no reason on earth,” stated Wynn, “for any of you to expect for more than one second that just because there are people here, they’re going to run into your store, or restaurant, or bar.” [page 33, The Luck Business, by Robert Goodman]

If you are still tempted to believe PNGI’s propaganda that table games will help tourism in Jefferson County, perhaps you should read the Urban Land Institute study commissioned by the cities of Ranson and Charles Town in 2004, which states, “The panel believes that at this time, the cities should focus their time, effort, money, and energy on creating an environment inviting to local and neighboring residents — not Charles Town Racing & Slots patrons. The gaming industry has mastered the art of keeping people within its four walls and CTR&S is no exception.” [page 14, The Commerce Corridor Revitalization Project Charles Town & Ranson, West Virginia]

Casinos not only fail to contribute to the economy, they draw away consumer dollars that would otherwise be spent at local shops, restaurants, and hotels. An owner of five restaurants in St. Charles, Missouri says, “Casinos have severely hurt my business. I can’t even advertise anymore. The casinos monopolize the billboards and drive up prices.” [www.casinowatch.org Gambling & Economics]

Common sense will tell you that there’s no way local restaurants and hotels can compete with casinos, who “comp” (give away for free) to their high-rollers booze, food, and a place to sleep at night.

Don’t buy the hype. Vote NO on December 5th.

Support from Horse Industry: By Sam Huff and Carol Holden

Charles Town Races and Slots has had a massive positive impact on both the racing industry, the promotion of tourism, and a cash influx to community government, the schools system, and many, many, established business operations. This impact is felt not only in the monies that Penn National has devoted to the community but in the hundreds and hundreds of individual jobs that were created by the PNGO operation. Table games can only add more jobs and economic well-being for Jefferson County, including horse racing industry.

The Breeders Classics’ Board of Directors knows full well the importance of having passed the VLT (slots) bill, in Jefferson County some years ago. Without that bill, the Breeders Classics would not have had the funds to grow and promote the local track and showcase the horses bred in our state and horse racing locally would have most likely passed from existence here. There is no doubt the slots bill has breathed new life into racing at Charles Town. Because of that, The Classics’ Board wholeheartedly supports and endorses the passage of table games to be operated by Penn National Gaming, Inc.

PNGI has been a very effective partner with the racing industry and has lived up to its promise to the community as a whole, a beautiful facility, a new hotel and fine dining, and support of the racing industry.

Please help us keep Jefferson County at the forefront of this industry by voting for the table games at the county referendum on December 5^th.

Sam Huff, CEO, and Carol Holden President West Virginia Breeders Classic Ltd