What do most people know about Indian casinos? For that matter,
what do most people know about casinos of any kind? There’s been a
lot of heated discussion over whether and where casinos might be
built in our vicinity, but so far there hasn’t been much to
convince me to be strongly for or against them.
What do most people know about Indian casinos? For that matter, what do most people know about casinos of any kind? There’s been a lot of heated discussion over whether and where casinos might be built in our vicinity, but so far there hasn’t been much to convince me to be strongly for or against them.
Recently, it seemed to be a prime time to do some reconnaissance, err, research into the topic, albeit in the form of rest and relaxation. Because we love Gold Country, my wife and I drove up to Sonora for the weekend and did some touristy things and explored the Motherlode in all its springtime beauty. And we spent an evening at the Black Oak Casino, in Tuolumne, right outside Sonora. A Saturday night, no less, which is, of course, the busiest night of the week.
I’ll admit I like casinos and enjoy wasting a few bucks and a few hours in front of slot machines. Like most people, my wife and I emerge from casinos without losing our shirts, shorts, or the deed to the house. We’re not expecting to become rich, either. The real draw is just getting away.
Some in our midst are concerned about the potential for tribal casinos to act as magnets for crime, drunkenness, and ruin as a result of putting gambling within easy reach. The land in San Benito County is mostly pasture or farmland, and any crime at all would be an instantly huge increase, no doubt about it. Gambling is everywhere, even without casinos. And, if leaving the comfort of your own home isn’t appealing, then you can also gamble online. The Internet brings the game to you; all you need is a credit card.
What about drinking and drunkenness? We didn’t see drunkenness (at more than $4 a drink, you’d have to really want it), nor did we witness rowdiness or a demolition derby on the local roads. Paying for drinks is a good limiter. In contrast, in Las Vegas and Reno, you walk into a casino and soon you’re asked if you want a cocktail. It’s free. Okay, you give the cocktail server a tip, but it isn’t like sitting in the bar at the Hilton or the Hyatt, where your wallet weighs significantly less after a round of beverages. You can get stupid, stupid drunk. Hammered. Blotto. For cheap. Lots of people do.
What about the locals – and not just the Native Americans? Some work in casinos. Some work in related businesses. Many are like us: housepainters, dog groomers, grocery clerks, insurance claims adjusters, and so on. You don’t have to be part of the gambling/drinking crowd if you don’t wish to.
At the same time, those in tourism-related businesses seem to be doing well. Casino wages are less than stellar if I can believe my ears. Riding the shuttle bus from the casino to the parking lot, we heard a loud conversation between the driver and a passenger who works at another casino. And to hear them speak, nobody employed in the casinos is getting rich, unless you count the proprietors and investors. Apparently, unless you’re in a position to get lots of tips, you will probably get paid about the same as if you worked at McDonald’s or In-‘n’-Out.
If there’s one big plus to having a casino nearby, it’s that casinos book entertainment to draw people in. You may not see Sting or U2, but casinos book some excellent performers where they might never have appeared otherwise. How many times would you see someone like Olivia Newton-John, Smokey Robinson, Tony Bennett, Charlie Daniels, Kenny Rogers, or Dwight Yoakam here in our area? Even if you don’t like to drink or gamble, a casino might be an OK deal.
In our few hours at Black Oak, we saw a nicely designed, clean but small casino populated by a lot of plain ol’ folks and catering to everyday folks. What’s more, they’re actually trying to keep it family-friendly (which strikes me as peculiar, but then they do something like that in Las Vegas, too) by having a video arcade and bowling one floor below the casino. Their restaurant was above par, but reasonably priced.
Not all casinos are clean, well-lighted places, but it seems to make sense that anyone opening one would want to appeal to locals and out-of-towners alike. Before either giving the go-ahead or a firm thumbs-down, though, it’s worth giving a casino a look and weighing the pros and cons.
In any case, we should keep our eyes wide open and maintain a firm grip on the process, just to ensure that anything that happens is to our benefit, too.
