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OLG Toronto/GTA casino proposal (where to put it?)

Just because people "support" a casino doesn't mean they'd, i n the end, support it through referendum--in a way, casinos are better achieved through backrooms/boardrooms/bureaucracy than through the public will. This is Toronto, not Tunica.

At the same time (and the "no" campaign should bear this in mind), just because people'd vote "no" to a downtown casino doesn't make them abolitionist re all things gambling and OLG--heck, they could even live with augmenting the Woodbine status quo...
 
000 said:
I am leaning towards supporting the casino, but only of it is built on our terms, our conditions (whatever city hall agrees those are). In my opinion the city should tax gaming at a higher rate than other businesses to compensate for an disproportional burst of increased density and traffic and any negative social effects that may introduce (can't think of another business that brings in thousands of new people every day of the year, the current MTCC is a ghost town compared to the swaths of people this proposal will bring). DRL and rebuilding or repairing the Gardiner are high priority. Collecting ongoing revenue is preferred to one-time fees. The casino must be integrated into an entertainment complex rather than standalone, that way it's not 'gambling only'. It needs to be family friendly, give people place to sleep, to eat, to shop, watch a musical, grab some drinks. Tourism toronto could be setup to guide tourists with other things they can see or do in and around the neighbourhood and surrounding areas.
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The City has no say in any of that.
 
taxing tourists

not only are you taxing locals your taxing tourists with a casino which pumps money into the city from outside the country of canada which is the best best for not only toronto but canada too.
 
ttk77 said:
Why do all the mega-casino owners focus on these giant monolithic casinos? Maybe I'm totally out to lunch here, but zone one of our Victorian strips for gambling. Allow for the opening of small venue gambling houses, poker dens, small members-only black-tie casinos.... allow back room black jack in bars/pubs, encourage a few burlesque clubs to open up, purposefully create a bit of a seedy vibe in the area... maybe add in somewhere guys (and gals) can go smoke their cigars over a good scotch. Privately run smaller establishments that pay their taxes into OLG, that meet the street, surrounded by neighbourhood restaurants and bars. Wouldn't this fit in better with Toronto than a giant Vegas style casino?
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That actually sounds quite entertaining. Both do, but a smaller-scale project might be easier to introduce in the beginning.

Apparently in Britain it's quite common for pubs to have a "fruit machine" in the corner.
 
DHLawrence85 said:
Apparently in Britain it's quite common for pubs to have a "fruit machine" in the corner.
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It certainly used to be ... I always thought it was fascinating as a kid in the 1970s. Probably hasn't changed, but I just don't notice on the rare occasion I'm in one these days..
 
So apparently reading posts on Twitter from people who are at the Sands proposal - is that it will form part of the proposed Oxford development - and it would be triple the size of the current MTCC


And Leven said they are only interested in a downtown casino - not anywhere else in the GTA
 
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Torontovibe said:
Why do I have the gut feeling that the OLG is going to try to force this on to Ontario Place? I really hope I'm wrong.
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Ugh. That would just be awful. I fully expect the casino to be ugly. So it'll be an ugly thing right on our beautiful lake. Blegh.
 
Oh god, NOOOO! They can't destroy Ontario place with some gaudy monstrocity best reserved for the Vegas strip, it would completely destroy not only Ontario Place, but the entire waterfront around it. I'm still on the fence deciding if I agree with a casino, but if it does manage to get approved, I ask only 2 things. First, that they construct it so that it will compliment the surrounding neighbourhood, and not build it typical a la Vegas aka covered in thousands of flashing, tacky, cheesy lights, and second, that they leave Ontario Place alone. There is much potential if it's done right, unfortunately, there's just as much disaster waiting if it's done wrong. I hope the CEO's of the Sands and MGM remember that we're not a casino city, and to build accordingly, otherwise that proverbial fence I'm on will be brunt to the ground, fingers crossed everyone. :p
 
^^ But didn't the OLG say that once Toronto approves a casino, only the OLG will decide where it will go? At first the OLG wanted it at Ontario Place but said Toronto could decide. Now all of a sudden, they have changed their tune and say Toronto can only decide yes or no. (and even that they are slowly backing away from) Might this be because they have already made up their mind to put it at OP? I am starting to question the integrity of the OLG with all the shady flip flopping. Can we trust the guy who runs the place? I just don't like the way this is playing out, with less and less emphasis on what we Torontonians want. I hope I'm wrong because I will be quite upset, if they put the casino at Ontario Place.
 
I thought torontonians were getting a yes no vote of if they wanted it but it would be up to coucil where it went. I'm pretty sure that's accurate.
 
I was told recently that Council get to say yes or no. If it's yes, then OLG decides where
 
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