Quote:
Originally Posted by nuisance
I going to guess that all PA casino's will eventually offer free alcohol. Especially once the pit games are in full blast.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say not all will do it. If they're already jammed (and they will be at the outset), why do they need to? Believe me, I love to drink and gamble, but I don't think it makes much financial sense for some properties.
All the casinos have a HUGE tax nut to crack in the state, and free alcohol will cut right into the bottom line.
Mt. Airy is not doing great, but if they can make the numbers work it might be worth a shot in their position. I think they have to do something, and that's fine to try, but still I don't think it is the best business driver for them. Look at Sands, which has been giving it away, and they aren't lighting the world on fire. Rumors of more layoffs down there are in the works.
By contrast, PcD is doing very well, and really has little to gain by offering it free to everyone. First off, who is free booze supposed to attract?
Higher tier players already get their alcohol comped and I would bet playing tables at a good average bet will get that done as well, regardless of status. Those are the players they want to keep happy.
Will someone playing $50 a hand drive to Mt. Airy only because the booze is free? Doubt it. If we were talking 5 or 10 miles maybe it becomes more of a consideration, but the two properties are not next door.
On any given weekend night, enough of the lower folks are walking around there sloshed anyway, so they obviously are happy paying for their beverages at the bars or the machines.
Opening free booze to all will not only cost money to purchase, but it will cut out the money they're currently making from people who buy a drink or twenty while playing. Add to that the number of power drinking townies working the free stuff without gambling (this area has a surplus of those) and beefed up security (additional cost) will be a must at peak hours.
I'm not saying some properties won't have something to gain by giving it away, but I think Pocono Downs is one property, at least at this point, that really has no need to give away alcohol to everyone.
Last edited by chucksim; 07-08-2010 at 12:40 AM.
Reason: grammar