Orlando: Growing it, or Killing it

It has been awhile since I posted anything on here, however, does not mean I have been dormant and not "paying attention". After reading today's article in the Orlando Sentinel on the state's deal with the Seminole Tribe, I felt it was time to "express myself" and get in the "powers that be" face.

The state is moving forward with a 5 year deal that gives the Seminoles the right to run "blackjack' and Vegas style slots in 5 of their casinos. In exchange, the state gets a sizable payoff each year from the tribe. That's cool, except, there are two problems with that concept. 1)Aside from the state pari mutuals located in South Florida's Dade-Broward-Hialeah area, the rest of the states tracks and frontons get very little. No limit poker and some halfass bogus faux slot machines. These places have been around alot longer than the Seminole casinos, employe many people and are being "dissed" by the state! 2)The amount of money realized from this deal by the state is miniscule compared to what the state would realize if they legalized casinos to the casino industry. So, once again, the state caves in and comes up short. When are these "brain challenged" politicians going to wake up and get with the program? And hey, "You elected them".

Now, lets get loud and local! Orange County has the second largest convention center in the country. We are second in conventions, trailing Vegas big time. We are one of the few, if not the only, convention "mega centers" to NOT have any "action". You know, Vegas style shows, casino games, "ADULT ENTERTAINMENT"! The adults that come here for conventions, are not going to Cinderellas Castle or HogWarts or Shamu Stadium! If You want this "bigtime" convention business, "offer them something"! Or else, they will leave like the "Concrete/Cement" show did a couple years back. Do the right thing, and then, maybe You wont be sitting around gripping about not having the funds for this or that. I am sure this could be put in play, "virtually, over night"! If You had the stones to go forward with such a thing.

Downtown Orlando itself! We need a good cash flow to get things done that have already been approved and set in motion. Here's a plan that would/could make all the dreams come true. As has been suggested, "turn the old Amway Arena into a casino"! You could convert that place in no time and it would instantly start making You money and generating a revenue stream to beat the band. The money generated by this venture could fund projects You already have approved, i.e. Arts Center and renovation of the Citrus Bowl, which, in turn could land us some NFL games from the Jaguars which would generate even more cash. Not too mention, just maybe, enough revenue would flow to help with the transportation/train project, and, who knows, maybe enough cash going to the coffers to actually build a "new stadium" that could possibly attract a baseball or real football team here.

Yeah, Buddy Dyer, a "tech village" would be nice, and, could still come about somewhere else at another time. IT IS NOT GOING TO INFUSE OUR ECONOMY NOW! We need attainable fixes now, not down the road. It is time to s**t or get off the pot. We are either going to grow Orlando or wallow in stupidity going forward. Let's get this right for a change!!!

"Wake Up & Pay Attention",

Bobby Sharpe reggae8@aol.com Facebook Bobby Sharpe

Cypress Gardens, Casino, & Florida

Florida's first theme park closed again this week. Nobody can make Cypress Gardens competitive anymore, except me! Novel idea. How about making it Florida's first sanctioned "casino/resort"? Polk County has a terrible unemployment rate. It would create jobs! And, the senior population would support it along with the tourist. AND, the state would benefit, not the Seminole tribe.

Why does it take the humans that are supposedly in charge, such a long time to figure out what the masses see in a flash? Are we that much more advanced than the people in office, or, is it the same old question of everything, "what's in it for me"? Come on government, at least make an effort to get something right...

"Wake Up",

Bobby Sharpe(find me on Face Book)

Seminole HardRock Hotel & Casino Tampa(Review)

Yesterday, Saturday Sept. 20, 2008, my wife Mary and I decided to go to the Hardrock Casino in Tampa for a little action. Had not been over there since they added Vegas style slots etc. Though the economy is pretty much "in the tank" these days, there were still quite a few folks throwing the cash around in the casino. The place was not super crowded, but, there was a nice crowd throughout the casino floor.

Here are a couple observations I made while there for about 3 hours.

1) The nice new parking garage is great. No more riding around the open parking lot waiting for someone to come out of a space.

2) As we walked from the garage thru the temporary covered walkway to the lobby area, the closer we got to the lobby, the more it smelled like a huge ashtray. Yes, "smoking" is allowed on property AND in the casino. If YOU have a problem with second hand smoke and it's smell, YOU DO NOT want to be here.

3) The one thing I noticed once we hit the casino floor area, there is NO rhyme or reason to the layout of the slots. At least as best I can tell. After being in major mainline casinos in various places, there floor is a nightmare.

4) The one thing that blew me away the most though, is the slots themselves. Alot of the newer slots have these huge display screens with so much crap on them, you dont have a clue what is going on with the particular game. Alot of the newer stuff, YOU need a "users manual" to figure out what the deal is. Granted, there are still a bunch of the older slots that are pretty standard and quite simple to use and figure. The other thing with the slots is the denomination structure. They have tons of 2 cent, nickle, and 10 cent slots. People will see them and go, "hey, I can afford to play that". Uh, "no YOU can't". Most of these machines call for a minimum 10 or 20 line bet. YOU do the math. A minimum 20 line bet on a 10 cent machine is $2.00 a pull. Minimum 10 line bet on a nickle machine translates to .50 a spin/pull. YOU get my drift? THERE ARE NO 2 CENT, NICKLE, OR, 10 CENT MACHINES!

5) Ther are plenty of mostly friendly floor people to tend to your change or drink needs. The service is good.

All in all, we had a pretty good time and only lost less than $100 in an almost three hour run between us. Not bad for a fun break at a casino.http://www.seminolehardrocktampa.com/

"Everything is a gamble,"

Bobby Sharpe Bobby Sharpe's "Techertainment": Motown Legend Crosses Over "Dragon, Book Of Shang": "Dragon, Book Of Shang" Updates & NEW Reviews

MGM Grand Casino Macau

Pansy Ho, 50% owner of MGM Grand Macau

MGM Opens Grand Casino in Macau

MACAU (Dec. 18) - Socialites and showbiz stars joined business tycoons Tuesday for the opening of the MGM Grand Macau, the latest Las Vegas-backed casino to crowd into the tiny Chinese gambling enclave, hoping to lure China's growing middle class.

The US$1.25 billion (euro850 million) MGM Grand is a joint venture between Las Vegas casino operator MGM Mirage and Pansy Ho, former socialite and the daughter of Macau's former casino kingpin, Stanley Ho.

It is jockeying for high rollers with dozens of casinos already stationed in Macau, the only place in China where gambling is legal and which last year raked in more gaming revenue than the Las Vegas Strip.

Dozens of guests began arriving for a black-tie opening ceremony Tuesday evening, sweeping up the grand driveway in black chauffeured limousines. The public would get their first glimpse inside the mirror and steel building just before 11 p.m. (1500 GMT).

The high-profile guest list included Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, top Macau government officials, as well as local celebrities and tycoons, including Stanley Ho, a spokeswoman said.

Stanley Ho ran the casino business in Macau for 40 years until 2001 - two years after the Portuguese colony returned to Chinese rule - when the government broke up his monopoly and handed out gaming concessions to foreign interests.

American Sheldon Adelson was the first to enter the territory, opening the Sands Macau in 2004, and then this August the US$2.4 billion (euro1.67 billion) Venetian, a Las Vegas style mega casino-resort complete with Italian gondolas punting down indoor canals.

Pansy Ho said the 600-room MGM Grand will target the wealthiest gamblers, called "VIP customers" in the business, who are interested in high-end shopping and entertainment as well as gambling.

For the rest of this story and some cool slide show pics of some of Macau's action, go to MGM Opens Grand Casino in Macau - AOL Money & Finance

And of course, while Macau is growing and offering top shelf adult entertainment, here in Florida we have "two" incompetent political pawns trying to undo the pact our governor made with the Seminole Indians to broaden casino games in the state. The so called "top cop" in the state, Bill McCollum and speaker of the house, Marco Rubio, need to worry more about property insurance, property taxes and the overall budget than worrying about what citizens do with their money and morals.

As long as this state has right leaning, moralistic, good ole boy tight asses like this running things, we will never move forward to the next level of national and international competition.

"Speak Your Mind, those that matter don't mind,
Those that mind, don't matter"

Bobby Sharpe www.myspace.com/akuasharpe Dragon, Book of Shang

More Gaming At Seminole Casinos

Let's see, "should Florida allow more gambling at Seminole Indian casinos if the state gets more tax money"? This is a NO BRAINER! However, there are a few points I would like to make.

The state budget right now is a nightmare. It needs all the help it can get.

As far as I know, "the state does not get anything from the Seminoles now, so, what do YOU mean "more tax money"?

If the state does not reach an agreement with the Seminole Tribe by a specific date, the Dept. of the Interior will let the tribe proceed with changes nonetheless.

Gambling is a "voluntary tax". Nobody says you have to participate. However, you still will reap the benefits of increased tax revenue generated by gaming.

If Orange County, specifically, wants to be this "major convention destination", then we need to be offering some adult enticements. Such as "real" casino action. Convention goers on average, are not here for Mickey Mouse. Grow up and realize that.

Getting paid for giving permission to something that will benefit you is a win win. Is that so hard to figure out?

"The more YOU know, the more YOU grow,

The more YOU grow, the further YOU go,

Bobby Sharpe Bobby Sharpe's "Animalz" www.myspace.com/akuasharpe