U.S. Northeast casinos rattled by online bets, smoking and looming New York rivalry concerns
Currently, casinos in the northeastern United States are facing many problems as they prepare for the emergence of new competitors in New York City. Among those problems are operating losses from illegal online operations, an ongoing debate over whether internet gambling harms or helps actual casinos' profits, and a potential smoking ban in Atlantic City. Also, these issues were acknowledged at a major casino conference in Atlantic City on Apr. 17.
How New York's Rival Affects Atlantic Casino's Business Flow:
Earlier, at a casino conference called East Coast Gaming Congress at Hard Rock Casino, the panel spoke about the turbulence in the industry, especially as they prepare for the influx of three casinos that are expected to reshape the gambling market in the region in Downtown New York State.
In New York, we are currently preparing to answer hundreds of questions from casino operators, and we are working on selecting casino locations before we even consider compensating for the licenses available.
In this regard, New Jersey Casino Association and Atlantic City's resort casino president, Mark Giannantonio, noted that Atlantic City has two years of preparation to prepare for new competitors coming from New York.
In this regard, he said, opting to gamble and anticipating stronger competition for customers in other states and the region who will visit New York: "We're clearly seeing the New York game as a threat in general." In addition, he added that the New York casino will also affect competitors in Connecticut and eastern Pennsylvania.
Atlantic City needs to improve to meet new challenges:
Atlantic City needs to take public safety, infrastructure and cleanliness to new heights to face the challenges that new competitors will bring to prepare themselves to face.
Speaking on the topic, Giannantonio said: "Casinos can only do so much. We provide jobs, water supply. Let's match the beautiful aspects of the streets and the ocean. Let's take care of our homeless population forever. We need investments and programs to take the homeless from under the streets or boardwalks and give them the help they need."
Furthermore, on the afternoon of April 17, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small did not immediately respond when asked for comment.
New York Game Association President Stacey Rowland commented that fresh casinos in the future want to get gambling money that other states now have access to. In response, she commented: "Competition is a good thing. Competition from New York City will be a motivation for (the competitors) to step up."
Atlantic City Casino Employees Want To Quit Smoking At Gambling Venues:
In addition to the aforementioned issues, Atlantic City is now under pressure from casino workers who want to ban smoking on floors reserved for gambling sites. They have called on lawmakers to enact a no-smoking law, and recently filed a legal action to revoke a New Jersey law that would free Atlantic City's casinos from the state's indoor air law.
In response, Giannantonio noted that the smoking ban is "one of the biggest threats to our business right now." He also anticipated that smoking would result in millions of lost state tax revenues and around 2,500 casino jobs.
He supports a compromise. The compromise means allowing workers to smoke away from table games and in rooms where they do not have to work. Nevertheless, casino employees dismissed these claims and said casinos would be better off financially by attracting non-smokers who currently avoid casinos.
On the subject, Ramon White, a Borgata dealer and leader of the employee smoking cessation movement, said: "Casino executives continue to make unreliable claims and are fomenting false compromises that will force us, solely our own employees, to breathe toxic air in our workplaces every day. They can't care less about cancer, heart disease, stroke, COPD, and countless other illnesses that come from this unacceptable work environment that every worker in other New Jersey doesn't have to face."
Discussion of online gambling:
Some states are once again considering internet gambling as a way to generate new revenue. It is also now legal in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey.
According to Giannantonio, online gambling has been proven to benefit Atlantic City's offline casinos. For example, the resort has a popular online department that is linked to DraftKings' bookmakers.
However, there are those who disagree, such as Florida, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, and Rob Norton. He said, "It's cannibalism," noting that online casino gambling is negatively affecting actual casinos. Also, commenting on the industry as a whole, he added, "The approach we're taking right now is to compete with ourselves."
But others in the industry have said that online gambling only complements their physical casino operations, so his opinion is isolated.
Speaking about it, Giannantonio said, "For New Jersey, it was an added bonus." The resort successfully integrated its customer loyalty program across its online and physical sectors. 무료슬롯사이트
Online sports betting is "a cash cow for iGames" and physical athletes," he added. "We have a lot of people who are betting on sports online coming to our physical locations to make bets."
In addition, every panel cited land, unlicensed, unregulated slot machines and illegal offshore gambling sites as additional threats to the industry.
