As an increasing number of states seek to plug budget gaps and boost declining revenues by expanding gambling opportunities, the stakes keep getting higher in the competition to lure bettors.
Michael Cooper looks at the "feverish one-armed-bandit arms race" that has broken out throughout the East Coast, as neighboring states battle to poach and defend their gambling turf.
Take tiny Delaware for example, an early adopter, where "Gambling revenue accounts for more than 7 percent of Delaware's general
fund budget, making it the state's fourth biggest revenue stream, ahead
of its corporate income tax and gross receipts tax. But when new casinos
in Maryland and Pennsylvania began to attract the gamblers who once fed
quarters into Delaware's machines, the state acted. First it legalized a
form of sports betting. Then it allowed table games including
blackjack, craps and roulette. But its gambling revenues have continued
to fall."
In a desperate effort to feed their addiction to gambling revenue, Gov. Jack Markell signed a law at the end of June, "that
could make Delaware the first state to offer Internet gambling..."
"The endless one-upmanship among states has some analysts wondering at
what point the market will become saturated, and whether the industry
has reached a point of diminishing returns," writes Cooper.
FULL STORY: States Up the Ante in Bid to Lure Other States’ Bettors
Water Quality Comes Up Trumps in New Florida Gambling Deal
Florida will direct almost all the revenue from its gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe to fund water quality projects, to the tune of billions.
Pennsylvania's Gambling Expansion Proving Unpopular at the Local Level
The state thought more casinos would be a good way to raise some revenue for the state. So far a lot of local governments want no part of that action.
Pennsylvania House Goes All-In on Big Gambling Expansion
A bill that would greatly expand legalized gambling to new locations around the state flew through the Pennsylvania House of Representatives this week.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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