Harrah's
Releases Impact Report
As reported by the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: "If you're at least 21 and
living in Allegheny County, Harrah's is counting
on you to lose $400 at its slot machines during
the casino's first business year. By year four,
if you're not sick of losing, you'll be expected
to forfeit $521 annually.
"Harrah's
Entertainment rationalizes its higher-than-industry-average
slots projections by touting its nationwide
network of customers and its ability to route
customers from distant locales to its dozens
of properties.
"Even
so, Harrah's, in an economic impact study submitted
to the state, says it expects that nearly three-fourths
of its $531.4 million in annual slots revenue
will come from residents of Allegheny County.
J
"ust
a small share of customers will come from beyond
a 100-mile radius, according to the impact statement
submitted to the state.
"…That
average spending of $400 per person jumps when
you consider that up to 40 percent of Allegheny
County's gambling-age population won't visit
the casino even once. That means the remaining
60-plus percent will have to pick up the slack,
losing $650 or so in the first year.
"Fortunately,
you won't have to spend it all at once…"
|
