Michigan’s Governor Looks to Indiana For Inspiration. Really? Mi. HB-5546

I thought I would puke when I sat and listened to Rick Snyder’s explanation and or excuse of how, why and to whom he looked to for slicing the throats of our unions here. Indiana.

Well Governor if Indiana inspires you so much are you going to sign HB-5546 now that it has passed both the House & Senate here or Veto it?

You see Indiana as you have claimed how Right To Work has helped that state so much with employment also did something else. IMPLEMENT SLOTS AT THEIR HORSE TRACKS.

In a May 2010 American Gaming Association report when the country was still in complete crash mode from the previous years. Certain statistics were duly noted specifically Indiana’s Racinos.

Excerpts:

There’s no way around it – this past year was tough. The down economy dealt most Americans challenges we haven’t faced in some time, if ever. For those of us in the commercial casino industry, that meant people had less money to spend on our products. Our revenues in 2009 fell 5.5 percent from 2008 to $30.74 billion. This is the story told in the 2010 edition of AGA’s State of the States report. But as challenging as the year was for most of us, that’s not the entire story.

“As this year’s survey reports, a particular bright spot for the industry came in the racetrack casino sector, which continued to grow. Gross gaming revenues rose in 2009 to $6.40 billion, a 5 percent increase over 2008 figures. Gaming tax contributions from racinos also increased, with $2.63 billion being returned to state and local governments – a 1.2 percent increase. Racinos in Indiana, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma saw significant employment increases in 2009; however, overall racino employment remained near the previous year’s level of 29,000 people”.

Now because I like FACTS. I do know that Indiana’s two Racino Owners filed for Bankruptcy protection in 2011 solely due to the fact of the extremely large opening costs by the State in licensing fees. Reality they were doing beyond good until Ohio also opened their Racinos in 2012.

Indiana could lose gamble on revenue from casinos and racinos because of Ohio.

Yet,
Note Side Facts:

Winners and losers

Indiana’s casinos are winning less money from their patrons. Statewide, the annual win (the revenue collected at slot machines and table games minus what’s paid out to gamblers) is trending down Meanwhile, the state’s two racetrack-based casinos have seen a rise in wins.

Casino Annual Wins (millions)
2008 $2,461M
2009 $2,378M
2010 $2,350M
2011 $2,267M

Racino Annual Wins (millions)
Hoosier Park Casino & Racing
2008 $110.5M
2009 $204.7M
2010 209.5M
2011 220.5M

Indiana Live (millions)
2008 $93.7M
2009 $214.8M
2010 $236M
2011 $244.3M
Source: Indiana Gaming Insight, Indiana Gaming Commission

And Ohio? Well Ohio speaks for itself.

Ohio ’racino’ revenue tops $11M in opening month

The Associated Press
Posted Jul 09, 2012 @ 11:31 PM

COLUMBUS — The first slots-like gambling machines added to one of Ohio’s horse tracks have taken in more than $11 million in revenue during the facility’s opening month.

According to data released Monday by the Ohio Lottery, the state’s share of revenue from the video lottery terminals at Scioto Downs in Columbus is $3.7 million. That’s more than the roughly $3 million officials estimated the machines would generate per month for the state. The money will help fund K-12 education programs in Ohio.

The roughly $7.4 million in remaining revenue goes back to the track, which is operated by Chester, W.Va.-based MTR Gaming Group Inc. The slots-like machines have been available to visitors since June 1.

Revenues are calculated as the money remaining after prizes have been paid out to winners.

End

So Governor since you used Indiana as such a BIG excuse of why you signed Right To Work into law here. Are you ever going to mirror what Indiana did to help the Horse Racing Industry there and are you ready to help the same within your own state the thousands of jobs connected to it? Or are you going to do an about-face citing another Proposal that took place when the majority of those who signed those petitions to even have had it on the ballot honestly never really knew or understood the petitions language to begin with.

But then Michigan also just voted a bill down for an Emergency Manager for Detroit, but that won’t matter much now will it?

Detroit City Council Is Right Not To Trust Miller Canfield Law Firm and With Damn Good Reason.

Krystal Crittendon isn’t a fool and the Detroit Council aren’t fools to listen to her.

Isn’t this the same Miller Canfield?

In 2009 Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians filed a suit against former chairman of the tribe family: BERNARD BOUSCHOR, and their law firm MILLER CANFIELD, PADDOCK AND STONE, P.L.C. and Seven Others DANIEL T. GREEN; PAUL W. SHAGEN; JOSEPH M. PACZKOWSKI; DAVID E. SCOTT; JOLENE M. NERTOLI; JAMES M. JANNETTA; DANIEL J. AWEAVER jointly and severally.

AND WON

Soo Evening News. May 10, 2010

PINNACLE RACE COURSE IS BEING HIJACKED BY THE MGCB: MICHIGAN THOROUGHBRED HORSE RACING HAS GENERATED $5,594,667.00 current fiscal year off 3.5% Simulcast Tax. But Threatens to Shut Pinnacle Race Course Down Today at 12 NOON Unless WE PAY THEM $57,000 MORE. THIS IS A CONSPIRACY.

PAY RANSOM OR ELSE? 

   

Simulcast revenue produced from 3.5 tax for current fiscal year ending september 30, 2010. Current bal. Oct. 1, 2009 to August 29, 2010 

$5,594,667 

  

  

Michigan Millions of Dollars Throw Away. HORSE RACING.

From the HBPA Website   

STATE REVENUE FROM THE 3.5% SIMULCAST TAX CURRENT FISCAL YEAR: OCTOBER 1, 2009-JUNE 6,2010   

 $4,682,968   

This is what Michigan wants to throw away. MUCH NEEDED REVENUE. Well if Michigan doesn’t want it and since Horse Racing generates it. Why are the Thoroughbred Horsemen having to BUY BACK DATES WITH OUR PURSES?   

HBPA to go back to Michigan Gaming Control Board

Well it’s off to the MGCB for the Horsemen’s Benevolent Protection Association in Michigan to attempt to seal an agreement with Pinnacle for the upcoming very short meet for 2010.

ALL THE MORE REASON TO GIVE MI. TRACKS SLOTS.

With now Ohio to be soon building and operating Casino’s.

No more buses will be full of Ohioans coming to the Detroit Casino’s. As of now they come here full of people from Ohio on a daily basis.

This is even more pertinent of a reason to give much needed Gaming to Mi. Horse Racing Tracks. With Pinnacle Race Course being the closest track to the Ohio border. With the combination of both Horses and Slots it may still bring some people into Michigan.

The race tracks have always generated and brought in millions & millions of dollars in Revenue to Michigan. And they always will if allowed to continue to exist. With this latest passage on House Bill 4311 by both House & Senate and hopefully with Governor Granholm’s signature later this morning. At least for the present moment we’re not any longer on our last breath. But in reality here, we are still on Life Support. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

With added gaming to the tracks, not only will we be brought back to full life. But Michigan will also rake in more of the much needed dollars in revenue. Common sense is 2+2 always = 4 no matter how you add it up. Horses and slots is a Win Win position not only for Horse Racing but for Michigan. At one time The Michigan Mile at The Detroit Race Course was a $300,000 Grade II Race. What’s to say in the future at Pinnacle Race Course it can’t be a Grade I Race.

Bigger purses bring in a better quality of horses. All I know if you have no vision in life to stride for the best you can do. You end up with nothing. If you shoot for the stars, most times than not you’ll come out on top.

Michigan’s Governor and all of the other Politicians in this State of ours occupying both the House and Senate, better come to a decision and fast. Do We Shoot For The Stars, or do we sit and do nothing watching Michigan sink into an even bigger hole. If our Governor can give a 42% tax break to Hollywood movie makers that have came here, which will end up costing the State Millions. Why can’t the Race Tracks here catch a break of some kind as well. Only the Tracks already bring in over $400 million.

The Revenue alone from the 3.5% Simulcasting tax brought in $5,341,057. Imagine what the numbers will be from the slots implemented into the tracks. These are numbers you just can’t ignore unless you choose to. But why would you want to choose to ignore an Industry that could make you so much more?

This is no time to drag our feet now on this issue. It’s time for our Mi. Politicians to decide.
Is it Success or Further Downhill?
We hit BUST a long time ago.

I say we shoot for those stars because there’s nothing else left to lose. Gaming at the Race Tracks can only add up to one big giant WIN.

For Horse Racing and Michigan.

MICHIGAN SENATE: A BIG THANK YOU

Michigan Horse Racing lives to see another day.

Senate Passes Bill HB-4311, November 5, 2009

Roll Call # 536
Yeas 91 Nays 12

Governor Granholm is expected to sign the Bill, Friday November 6, 2009 at 11:00 am.

MICHIGAN SENATE, PLEASE WAKE UP!

ALL SIMULCASTING AND LIVE RACING WILL HALT FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6, BREEDERS CUP WEEKEND.

STATE REVENUE FROM THE 3.5% SIMULCAST TAX FROM JAN.1 THROUGH 11/1/2009 $5,341,057.00

CONTACT SENATORS NOW!!!