What's the deal and
appeal with Caribbean Stud?
16 July 1999
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark,
I can't wait for gambling to come to Detroit. Do
you think with just three casinos, there will be
enough competition to benefit the player? Benny
D.
A resounding NO, and here's why. The precipitous
price for those three casino licensees will have
to be absorbed by the unwilling and unknowing
player. For starters, a state gaming tax of 18
percent of the casino profits was set by
Michigan's Proposition E referendum. Next, add
an additional $25 million a year to the Michigan
Gaming Control Board, plus $5 million for
compulsive gambling. State legislators also
enacted laws that require each licensee to pay
more than $8 million in annual fees. As the
Consumer Price Index increases, so do the
service fees. The casinos must also pay an
additional annual municipal fee of 1.25 percent
of the adjusted gross receipts, or $4 million,
whichever is greater.
Now if you think the Lords of Chance will be
footing the bill for the price of a casino
license-the highest amount extracted yet from
any casino operator-lose the tears. They'll sulk
like a 10-year-old when they have to fork over
so much money, but whose pocket will they really
take it out of? YOURS. How? By oppressive rules
in blackjack, sky-high limits at table games,
tight video poker machines and even tighter
cybernetic one-armed bandits.
Welcome, Detroit, my hometown, to what I believe
will be some of the highest table limits and
toughest odds nationwide. For the customers'
sake, I hope I'm wrong and will have to digest
these words.
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