Local Residents Patronize New Breed of Casinos in Orleans
A new breed of casino can be found in Orleans that become civic and family-entertainment centers. A day care, bowling alleys, movie theaters and convention space, you name it, they got it.
Locals still love to gamble aside from their busy career world. An estimate of $1,500 per person was spent annually by the gamblers. As the population grows so are the neighborhood casinos. The casinos nearly ring the city since 1994 and five more are in the works.
Despite that Las Vegas casinos are in their neighborhood, the casino earnings still doubled since 2002. 87 percent of it comes from slot machines. 80-85 percent came from its local residents.
Customers say they get friendlier service and better odds in their state casino than on the Las Vegas Strip. Locals can get along without any celebrity chefs and so much glitter and tourist traffic.
One of the residents, a corporate finance executive lunching for free the other day at the Green Valley Ranch in suburban Henderson is Nevadan, Dante Olgado. The lunch was a "comp" for his time at the poker tables playing Texas Hold'Em.
Olgado said, "Ninety-nine percent of the people who live here say they don't gamble, but that's nonsense."
Anthony Curtis, publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor said in a newsletter, "The parking is better, the bargains are better, and the odds are better at the neighborhood casinos."
"They're dealing with a more sophisticated and discerning customer."
�The Strip doesn't have to do that because the tourists are there for the sizzle."