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Niagara Falls Casino Thrives But Neighbors Haven't Seen Benefits

``…The casino has accomplished many of the goals operators set for it.

``…The casino will hand over a check to New York state for roughly $40 million, the state's share of slot machine revenues. The state will give 18 percent of those funds to the Niagara Falls Casino Community Accommodation and Improvement Commission, a five-member panel responsible for maximizing benefits to the city from the proceeds.

``Not all is positive.

``The casino has not jump-started construction on new buildings, hotels or restaurants around the area.

``…Traffic has increased slightly but the city still hasn't shown a vibrance that some thought the casino would bring. There's no booming skyline like the one visible across the border in Niagara Falls, Ontario, where a casino is credited for an economic reversal.

``…Though the hotels are staying busy, they say the customer has changed. Before the casino, guests would spend money at the hotel restaurants, gift shops and souvenir stands. Now, hoteliers say, those customers are being weeded out by the gambler, who pumps cash into the casino.

``…An average of 12,000 people a day come through the casino's doors during the week, a number that jumps to nearly 20,000 a day on weekends, operators said…"

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