Let's treat the Seneca casino like a person who gambles; do it once then quit while you are ahead. Put another way, let the casino stand but from now on do other things to build the economy. Hopefully, the casino will just be one among many entertainment options in the future.

There are a lot of good arguments on all sides of the debate, however, I'm more optimistic about positive impact from a casino in Buffalo or Niagara Falls than I would be for Detroit or Kansas City, KS. Our region is much bigger tourist destination than Detroit and Kansas City are not, so we'd be drawing a lot more outside money. I say give the Senecas a chance, and who knows maybe (hopefully) all the negative impacts people keep speculating about won't come to fruition.

Where are we on the "build or not build" the bigger casino? Much like the bridge, traffic on Main Street, etc. it seems like it's a non-issue (again). Does anyone know if there's movement to build the larger casino (and for that matter - what's going on with traffic on Main Street)?

How many casinos do we need is this area? It's already saturated with 3 by the falls and all the slots in various lolcations. We have to think like a region, but we're just competing against one another yet again. Plus every city around the country is banking on casinos as in influx of outside dollars which clearly in showing much benefit. Las Vegas in the only city on the World that is successful at this.

Las Vegas’ success has come not only from gaming but other industries which have been lured here. Tourism and gaming, while being the state’s biggest industry, is not the only game in town. During lean years like recessions and the late 70’s energy crisis (remember the long lines at the gas stations?) Las Vegas’ economy suffered. Plus as other areas legalize gaming there is increased competition for those tourism dollars. There were many layoffs here during the slowdowns and the city and state sought out and lured other industries here to diversify its economic base. The lesson to be learned here is that it takes more than gaming alone to help ensure prosperity.

AdamFlx is dead on. The Senecas themselves declared in their filings for the federal government that this casino is intended to "serve" (if that is not an evil euphemism, I don't know what is) the local area.

Funny, when local people, like the underappreciated Joel Rose, raise the economic argument against casinos, they're denounced as obstructionists and moralistic killjoys. Now when the Wall Street Journal raises the economic argument against casinos, funny how no one on BRO gripes that WSJ is moralistic or obstructionist .

I don't think it's any coincidence that one of the world's most successful casinos in Monte Carlo, Monaco outlaws citizens of Monaco from gambling in the casino. Keep in mind that this principality is completely tax free and operates its small government entirely from the proceeds of the casino. They recognize that taking money from their own citizenry does nothing good for the local economy. If Monaco, one of the richest places in the world is afraid of letting its insanely wealthy citizens lose some of their money to the casino, how worried should a troubled economic region like Buffalo be?

THE INDIANS LOST ALL RIGHTS TO THEIR LAND UPON CREATION OF THE UNITED STATES PERIOD!

INDIANS ARE CITIZENS...THEY CAN BE DRAFTED AND THEIR LAND CONFISCATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS JURISDICTION AND CONTROL AND CAN TAKE IT ANY TIME THEY CHOOSE AND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT...THE STATES HAVE SIMILAR EMMINENT DOMAIN AND TAXATION RIGHTS.

SO KLATU, YOU COULD HAVE ASSIMILATED INTO THE UNITED STATES BUT IT WAS YOUR PEOPLE THAT PREFERRED RESERVATIONS....FINE...BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY TAXES!

Chris69, did you fail your history class? The American Indians did not choose to live on reservations. Did you ever hear of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The forced death marches referred to as the 'Trail of Tears'. Nearly all relocations under the act were carried out under duress either under military escort or when no other options remained thru tribal decimation.

CHRIS69 - YOU ARE A RACIST JACKASS! YOUR OPINION IS IGNORANT AND FLAWED... I CAN SEE WHY YOU WANT BUFFALO TO RETURN THE 1880s.

Klaatu...My great great grandparents came here from Europe. I did not. As generations pass a greater percentage of US citizens are people who were born here. Granted Europeans did take this land by force...at this point it would be equally unfair to take this land from those of us born here as it was to take the land from the natives hundreds of years ago. I never stole land from anyone. If you were born on this land then this land is yours. I am as American as you and anyone else born on this soil. The USA is ours, as much yours as it is mine and vice versa. If we wish to refuse Mexican's entry then it is our perogative to do so because this our country and not theirs. Yes we took this land by force but that has been the case in all lands throughout the history of mankind. There is not point in bickering further over who owns what. It is what it is and we have what have and we need to move forward.

Racist.... doubtful.. this country is full of racism, there was a time when Irish, Polish, Asian, etc.. we're all looked down upon and denied entry into the United States. Where are all you ppl complaining about taking land from the native americans... we took land from the Mexicans.. and the French took it from the Dutch... and then from the British...come on !!! Manifest destiny, as far as " being soverign".. thats a load of crap, Aside from their tax evading practices they're just like the rest of us.... drafted.. same federal laws.. etc. Just b/c your Indian means you don't have to pay taxes.. .give me a break.... god that is soo fricken ridicolous.. they have it easy..

the only hope that this would have a positive impact on Buffalo and WNY is if the money came to Buffalo. The fact the money is just leaving to the Res or Albany means you might as well just go and dump the money in the river and watch it float away cause it wont be helping out economy! yes those 1000 jobs are nice but you can be guaranteed more money will be LEAVING this area then staying.

And when money leaves businesses close, and people leave.

Ummm all land was taken by force at some point or another.. that's the history of the globe.. why do Native Americans deserve special rights, they lost the war (or series of battles as it were) To the victor go the spoils...

The fact the money is just leaving to the Res or Albany means you might as well just go and dump the money in the river and watch it float away cause it wont be helping out economy! yes those 1000 jobs are nice but you can be guaranteed more money will be LEAVING this area then staying.

Sbrof, what a strange and bogus complaint. Let's consider a few alternative entertainment choices.

Do you support having movie theatres in Buffalo?

Or do you feel these are bad to have in Buffalo because except for some usher and ticket seller pay checks, the "vast majority" of movie ticket revenues leave our area? It goes to the Regal Corp, the movie distributors, production companies, actors, etc. Is it bad for Buffalonians to have access to movie theatres? Why is THAT not the equivalent of dumping money in the river? Huh????

What about renting DVDs at Blockbuster or NetFlix? Do not the "vast majority" of those rental fees leave our area, headed to the corporation and other destinations similar to movie theatres? Is it bad for Buffalonians to rent DVDs? Should we stop that? Also dumping money in the river?

How about cable TV? Is it bad for Buffalonians to have cable TV available to us because except for some telemarketers and installers, the "vast majority" of subscription revenues leave our area? It goes to Time Warner Corp, the cable networks, production companies, actors, etc. Is it bad for Buffalonians to subscribe to cable? Should we stop?

How about big concerts? Is it bad for Buffalo when these come here because except for the venue rental and some security crew, the "vast majority" of ticket revenues leave our area? Where's the protests of these?

Many other examples abound, not just entertainment.

Many on this site would practically wet themselves if "cool/trendy" retailers such as Ikea or Trader Joes would honor us with a store here. Guess where the "vast majority" of money spent at those stores would go? It would LEAVE OUR AREA - that's where it would go! Oh the horror! It's just like dumping money in the river!

This concept is called trade. People have the opportunity to voluntarily exchange amounts their money in return for goods or services, where one example kind of service is entertainment, and examples of entertainment can include going to movies, renting DVDs, attending concerts, or even a gambling casino.

The moral argument of addiction is a separate matter, but it's very similar to beer and liquor sales - a trade-off choice between a nanny state and individual liberty. The argument against special rights for tribes is very strong, and on that we might agree. Personally, I favor full legalization of casinos with appropriate zoning such as for strip clubs. Let adults make their own decisions. But the argument from sbrof and others is very lame to say it will be a terrible problem that revenues from this one particular form of expenditure leaving the area when they have no such complaint about movies, DVDs, cable TV, concerts, Ikea, etc.