Minimum wages are a contentious issue on the campaign trail but a settled one at $450 million Stadium Casino. The in-progress Philadelphia gambling hall has committed to a $12/hour minimum wage for its construction and permanent personnel alike. That’s one 
of a number of metrics that the Cordish Gaming/Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment project has set for itself. Another is to hire a permanent workforce that’s 40% female and 50% minority. No more than 15% of workers can be insourced from beyond Pennsylvania borders. Once tips are factored in, dealers are expected to make $70,000 annually.
“The agreements set a new standard for development in Philadelphia in areas of economic opportunity and inclusivity for local residents,” said the developers, in a moment of self-congratulation. Among the economic beneficiaries of Stadium Casino will be five adjacent neighborhood groups to whom Cordish and Greenwood have committed $15 million for 20 years plus however long construction takes.
* The economic benefits of casinos will be on display in Tiverton, Rhode Island, where presentations will be made to the town council about the impact of Twin River Casino, in Lincoln. Contrary to bogeyman stereotypes about casinos, “Lincoln has a 
well-regarded school system, low crime, high property values and a solid investment rating,” according to town administrator T. Joseph Almond. In part that’s because Lincoln city fathers didn’t squander their big payday from Twin River, capping the amount that is used for the annual budget at $5 million. Anything more goes into a special reserve for infrastructural upkeep.
“Our thinking was, ‘Someday there’s going to be competition,'” says Almond, so the city’s draw from Twin River’s taxes has been kept to 8%. (Twin River enjoys low civic taxes: 1.5% on VLTs and 1% from table games.) In a considerable understatement that other cities — and the State of Nevada — would do well to heed, Almond says, “The money is a good thing but how you manage it is important.” Amen, sir.
* In chronicling Atlantic City‘s latest gaming receipts, we were so astonished by the utter collapse of Trump Taj Mahal that we overlooked one of the good-news subplots in the market: Online gaming revenues came in just shy of $13 million, a 36% increase from last year. PokerStars hasn’t launched in New Jersey yet, so we’re still waiting to see if its impact will be as spectacular as predicted.
* If you have an appetite for risk, don your Oculus Rift helmet and prepare to play in virtual-reality, offshore, online casinos. That’s the Next Big Thing or so we’re told. One company, SlotsMillion has been developing just such a project, in consultation with the government of Malta, where the site would be registered. The Maltese insist on clocks being visible in the SlotsMillion casino and players’ account balance being kept hidden. The company is happy to comply but warns that unlicensed Internet operators may not be so circumspect. Sounds like another good reason for legalizing and regulating ‘Net betting.
