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6/27/2008: Casino strike
The strike at the Brantford Casino is taking a bite out of the city’s budget. Posted at the casino’s east entrance is a large sign proclaiming in bold black letters: “Lost profit.”
According to striking workers, the loss to the city since the casino closed its doors June 1 is $275,000.
“It’s not just hurting us on the lines, it’s hurting the OLG and the city of Brantford,” said CAW representative Dave Reston.
The union estimates the city is losing $11,000 a day. However, based on what the casino paid out to the city last year, the actual amount is closer to $10,000 a day.
That still works out to $260,000 in lost revenue, an amount that is “hugely significant,” according to Coun. Mark Littell, chairman of council’s finance committee.
The Brantford Casino opened in 1999.
It is open 24 hours a day, the 30 thousand square foot gambling area has over five hundred slot machines and 70 gambling tables.
There are approximately 800 unionized employees in the Brantford Casino and Sudbury Downs.
As a ex business person, I view this article from a different view.
Lost profit.
If the city is losing $ 10,000/day, say that is 3% of a day’s take for the OLG.
$ 300,000 +/-
Maybe that $ 300,000, per day might find itself going to where it belongs…local business.
A Woodbine slot earns about $ 600 per day.
Say the 500 Brantford slots earn $ 450 /day each.
The casino take 100 million dollars a year out of the community.
So generous of the OLG to give back 3 or 4 million.
That might be the total of at least 3000 jobs diverted from local business, or maybe half of 6000 jobs
that do not reach the proper market.
Yes, the OLG does create some jobs but at what cost?
No wonder they are facing a class action law suit.
OLG has created over 450,000 addicted gamblers in the last 10 years.
Much more than profit has been lost.
How many gambling suicides have occurred in the province?
It also looks like The City of Brantford’s share has dropped 30 + % over the 7 years the casino has operated.
If times are tough times now, wait for $ 2.00/liter gasoline.
Bill Clark