Don't Revel In This.

I’m doing 180 degrees in my position on expanded casino gaming in New Hampshire. It’s not that I don’t support the idea but one factor enters into the whole discussion that ruins the whole idea every time.

Politics.

There are two main directions for this upcoming legislative session I hope that both of these fail:

The first as reported in the news media is Gov. Elect Hassan’s idea to build a high end casino at Salem on the site of the famed Rockingham Race Track. This is a UTUBE video showing a new high end casino in Atlantic City called Revel. Even in a gaming and market rich area like AC; this new casino, is surrounded by substantial risk of all sorts. New Hampshire is a start up in the gaming field and to date I’ve seen no evidence that the market even exists for such a high end casino in Salem. Beyond this the rest of New Hampshire is neglected by the favoritism of Salem over other regions of the state for gaming licenses.

The Gatsas plan is slightly better in that it allows multiple licenses in location(s) throughout the state however, state control is an issue. New Hampshire can’t run a ski area and a network of liquor stores well how is the state going to run multiple casinos? Never mind granting the licenses.

The answer is they will not. And it won't be fair either.

New Hampshire is already behind the curve in the idea of expanded casino gaming. Suffolk Downs in Boston is progressing as the casino in Oxford, Maine both facilities will and continue to mine revenue from New Hampshire. I’m confident Maine will pass another license I’d be willing to bet it’s in either the Portland area or south like Old Orchard Beach. The market area would include New Hampshire residents bringing gaming revenue over to Maine plus the toll revenue on the Maine Turnpike!

So where does this leave New Hampshire?

I think the only three regions that have a clear shot now are western, central and the northern parts of the state the rest of the areas will simply be in direct trajectory competition with other casinos in nearby states.

Comments

[Ed Naile]

How about the huge up front "donation" from the gambling industry for the first license?

[Steven J Connolly]

It's worked in ever other state that's tried it: Maine, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Kansas, Indiana.

Why can't it work here....

Uh, oh I forgot the 'quality way of life.' Did I say they have lots of hay and corn in Kansas.

Cows too.

[Rep Steve Vaillancourt]

Actually the liquor stores, notwithstanding the recent problem, are very well run...as is the state lottery...as is Cannon Mountain for that matter. It's more myth than reality that the state cannot run something like this.

[Steven J Connolly]

I go skiing frequently at places like Sunday River (Maine), Okemo (Vermont), Jay Peak (Vermont) and I've also been to Steamboat, Vail and Aspen in Colorado.

So in response to your response about Cannon Mountain being well run. I believe your statements to be incorrect. I think if a company like JD Powers were to evaluate Cannon Mountain against these others it wouldn't even be close.

Cannon doesn't care about the skier the way these other for profit ski areas do. This is why the state will never be successful in running a ski area regardless of how much political support they have.

This isn't a myth this is direct reality.

[C. dog]

Perhaps more germane questions to be asked are:
1. Should the State of New Hamsters (Aunt Hammie) own and/or operate a ski area?
2. Should Aunt Hammie grant itself the exclusive on the numbers racket?
3. Should Aunt Hammie vote itself the monopolist to deliver hard liquor to its subjects?
4. What next, soft porn?
– C. dog, The Impertinent

[Johnny Walker]

I have to agree with Rep V., Cannon is very well run. I think Mr. Connolly just doesn't like it because he, apparently, likes posh resorts and being catered to more than he does actually skiing. I make about 80% of my ski trips to Cannon because it is a tremendous value, unlike most other areas in the State. For me it's just about the skiing and Cannon has plenty of that if you don't mind the lack of posh care.

[Val Halla]

I ski all over NH as well, have skied out West, have been skiing for 30+ years, and I agree, Cannon is a well run operation. I think adding in all of what it takes to make it atti-loon-imore-woods-valley would ruin its appeal, frankly. Leave it be, let the state run one ski area out of 15 in the State...get over it.