by Steve Norton
CEO, Norton Management

Casino Gaming Draws Huge Support In SC - FITSNews - Discussion on Topix

My comment:

Today's article indicates tremendous resident support for limited gaming in South Carolina. A recent poll showed 68% support for casino gaming, which the State already has casino games, with several cruises that quickly get to International waters, before the games begin.

And South Carolina already has a State Lottery, that provides voluntary taxes, but offer much poorer odds to the player and in most states have higher per capita spending in the lower income neighborhoods.

But if casinos are located on I-85 near Atlanta, on I-77 close to Charlotte and in Myrtle Beach, you will primarily be taxing the citizens of other States. Myrtle Beach is like Atlantic City, that has its strongest demand in the Summer months, and suffers during the 200 mid-week nights a year, in the Fall, Winter and Spring. But with over 5 million residents nearby in Philadelphia, and nearness to NY City and a very large North East population, Atlantic City put no restrictions on the number of casinos allowed,. So when Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland approved various forms of gaming, Atlantic City casinos revenues were halved, and 5 casinos closed. But with its critical mass of accommodations, and other entertainment, it still does wee in the Summer and on weekends year round. .

But Myrtle Beach, where I once worked at the Ocean Forest Hotel, has even more attractions that AC, except for the lack of a destination casino resort. In fact the Ocean Forest has its own secret casino room, back in the 1930's and 40's

Myrtle Beach has the best golf on the planet, with 101 courses, and 7 ranked in the top 100 US courses in 2013. And you have wonderful shopping and sports facilities, that attract a lot of tournament activity. And with 7 airlines flying to 30 major cities, and more accommodations; you offer a much more complete destination for conventions and trade shows, than AC. But without land based casino gaming, your resort occupancies suffer much worse than Atlantic City, where they had an occupancy of 80.8% and an average room rate of $103 in 2015.. But the 23 larger Las Vegas Strip casino resorts, with just under 69 thousand rooms, had an occupancy of 92.1% and an average rate of $163, for the 12 months ending 6/30/2015. The exceptional occupancy and room rate is primarily because Las Vegas is the convention capital of North America, and has more than 20 million air arrivals per year where Atlantic City has no air service; a requirement for National conventions and trade shows.

With Myrtle Beach gaming, the off season demand, mid-week, would increase substantially, and help the annual 52% occupancy of your resorts.

I realize that there are negatives with casino gaming, but most have been demonized by those opposed to gaming, and need to be properly understood. Over the past 40 years, I have helped New Jersey, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and Indiana pass statewide or local referenda, draft gaming Legislation, develop casino rules and regulations, and help each state determine the best style of gaming and the most favorable locations; and after all of the preliminaries to work with my employers to build and open casinos in each.

I would be pleased to work with the South Carolina Legislature as well, as a one time resident of Charleston and Myrtle Beach.