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Detroit Casinos Offer Mixed Results7 July 2003DETROIT, Michigan – As reported by the Associated Press: “Almost three years after casinos were legalized in the city, critics say they have failed to generate the kind of boost in tourism and revenue that proponents had promised. “Supporters argue casinos generate jobs, provide revenue sources for their many suppliers and are keeping money in state that would otherwise have been spent elsewhere. “While statistics and studies exist to back up both sides of the argument, some patrons note that the casinos can have a troubling impact on local business and area residents. “…Proponents of the casinos say that they have had a decidedly positive impact. MGM Grand Detroit, Greektown Casino and MotorCity Casino hand over about $200 million per year in gaming taxes to state and city budgets and employ about 7,900 people. “Also, about 1,000 local businesses, including construction firms, bakeries and plumbing suppliers, provide services to the casinos. “But the tax remittance is about half what Casino Windsor, across the Detroit River in Ontario, generated. And critics note that the jobs Detroit casinos have provided have done little to dent the city's unemployment rate of 14 percent. “…Casinos say that to change the demographics of their visitors away from the so-called day-trippers, they need to expand. They are, however, barred from doing this given a six-year-old lawsuit over the city's casino selection process…” |