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Showing posts from June, 2018

Connecticut gamblers lost some $600M to online casinos

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  Years ago, I belonged to a group that tried to convince state lawmakers to reject online gambling. We got nowhere. We warned that online gaming would increase harm and produce no economic value. The data is showing what's happening.  Connecticut’s online casinos collected roughly $665 million after paying out winnings and making allowed deductions from October 2025 through September 2026. That gives a rough indication of players’ losses. The state received nearly $120 million of that money, which is what the chart shows. The state's cut is 18%.   What does that mean for Enfield?   Based on the problem gambling rate (state figure) of 1.8% -- and problem gamblers are the biggest source of gambling revenue --- approximately 600 adults in Enfield are problem gamblers. This means they have difficulty controlling their gambling, and may be in serious financial trouble.   There is another category called "at risk" -- as many as 1,600 people may be in this category. T...

MGM is dramatically changing downtown Springfield for the better

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MGM casino view from Main Street.  The developers opted for a style in character with surrounding properties. Note the 1940s-style hotel sign.  Red Rose Pizza to the left. It's not obvious from I-91 that a radical transformation is underway in Springfield's downtown. The view from the highway won't give you a sense of the scale of change. For a better understanding, get off the highway and park near Main Street, and prepare to be wowed.  Springfield has a lot of older commercial buildings that have survived redevelopment. It's fortunate in this respect. The city has retained an urban feel. It just needs the stores, shops and restaurants to make that happen.  MGM could have walled off their casino from the city, much like a shopping mall. But they did the exact opposite. They made this development an integrated part of Springfield's downtown. On the casino side of Main Street, MGM has preserved the facades of the older buildings. This section of ...