19 replies to this topic

[Dave Burrell]

It kind of surprises me that you don't see more "smoke free" casinos. There's one in Reno (Ponderosa, I don't even know if it's still open), but you'd think that as health-conscious as Californians are, smoke-free would be more popular. I read somewhere that California has the lowest percentage of smokers in the nation.

I suppose the people that gamble a lot probably smoke a lot too, perhaps they are 2 vices that go hand in hand.

You're probably right about those 2 vices going hand in hand

The thing that amazes me the most is to see senior citizens with oxygen tanks, gambling.... AND SMOKING - crazy!

[Renroc]

The funny part is that the Lake Tahoe casinos tried to fund the Anti Casino lobby via the "Voices for Rural Living" and it failed. It would be interesting to see how the property values will be affected and how much tax revenue will the County of EDH actually get and will it make a significant dent in the business of Tahoe casinos.

I am interested in this because there are often folks that make dire predictions that property values will fall, etc. etc., just as the folks that predicted that bringing lightrail to Folsom will bring crime. My friend who has a home near Thunder Valley (about 3 miles) saw his home appriciate greatly. Now that could have been because most prop values apprictated greatly anywhere in Lincoln, but all the naysayers were dead wrong about the values dropping soley because of Thunder Valley.

http://www.edhtelegr...tail/78233.html

Yeah I saw the list 3 years ago of who is on the Voices of Rural Living and its pretty interesting . I moved off the reservation from Shingle Springs to Serrano (El Dorado Hills, California).

[asbestoshills]

I don't know about home values, but the thought that there is yet another way for losers to lose more money is sickening.....The reason we don't have Las Vegas in other States because it is a very easy way to make money off of people who get addicted to gambling...For the reservation, it is a small reparation to gain income for their people. It's never good to have a city depending upon strictly gambling money to fund programs etc....It's embarrassing that in some places a casino is the biggest employer in the area....America is so focused on short term gains that people take a blind eye to the negatives and prevalence of gambling in America..Same thing with fast food rest. and liquor stores...Just say no if you get a chance to vote on either of these...One McDonald's or In/Out is fine, but when the entire community sustains their economy by part-time jobs with low pay and no benefits it hurts the economy in the long run...
JUST look at the economy....total shambles and do you think the avg. Joe will get a break on their mortgage? HELL to the NO....

[eVader]

I don't know about home values, but the thought that there is yet another way for losers to lose more money is sickening.....The reason we don't have Las Vegas in other States because it is a very easy way to make money off of people who get addicted to gambling...For the reservation, it is a small reparation to gain income for their people. It's never good to have a city depending upon strictly gambling money to fund programs etc....It's embarrassing that in some places a casino is the biggest employer in the area....America is so focused on short term gains that people take a blind eye to the negatives and prevalence of gambling in America..Same thing with fast food rest. and liquor stores...Just say no if you get a chance to vote on either of these...One McDonald's or In/Out is fine, but when the entire community sustains their economy by part-time jobs with low pay and no benefits it hurts the economy in the long run...
JUST look at the economy....total shambles and do you think the avg. Joe will get a break on their mortgage? HELL to the NO....

A community should never get dependent on gaming. It should have a mix of shops, services and medium to large businesses. Tahoe is an example - the casino as well as the community as a whole are VERY worried about any loss of gaming to CA casinos because while recreation is becoming the marketed attraction, it is the glamor of the casinos that has been the biggest draw. Tourism was up but spending was down up there. The improvements John appreciates are the mega timeshares who have the money from selling units to the Bay area\Silicon Valley and Sacramento Valley area.

They need a medium and large businesses\corporations to employ people at good wages but environmental laws and logistics of a mountain community make that difficult.

[Renroc]

It kind of surprises me that you don't see more "smoke free" casinos. There's one in Reno (Ponderosa, I don't even know if it's still open), but you'd think that as health-conscious as Californians are, smoke-free would be more popular. I read somewhere that California has the lowest percentage of smokers in the nation.

I suppose the people that gamble a lot probably smoke a lot too, perhaps they are 2 vices that go hand in hand.

Yeah first off I personaly dont drink , gamble, or smoke anything, never done drugs. A few of my family (who are tribal members) voiced the concern about smoking in the Casino. So they separated the different floors in the local development. The Kiddie Area (child care) and Cyber center (teen xbox/video game area) is totally off limits to drinking and smoking. The Gaming is on a totally different floor (and children are not legally allowed on any Tribal Casino Floor) The other floor is for the Restaurants and other venues where smoking in areas are off limits.


So the children are safe from smoking and drinking areas (Any casino security is pretty good)
As are our tribal elders whom some do not like the smell of smoke and second hand smoke as well.

If you look at Thunder Valley or Cache Creek, you have to walk through the casino floor (with smoke and drinking) so this Red Hawk Casino is different. Kids and Elders do not have to pass through smoking and drinking areas directly. Every tribe is different and every casino layout is different, but the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians is conscientious about its youth, the elders, and the community.

If you did however want a Tour of the Casino , just ask because they will not have tours for very much longer. If you did have a question about its involvement in the community, feel free to ask their Shingle Springs Rancheria Community Network