Casino in Times Square Faces Strong Resistance, Shows New Survey
People living in the neighborhoods surrounding Times Square are against the idea of a casino hotel being built there, as shown in a recent poll by Tulchin Research.
The casino proposal is being spearheaded by Caesars, real estate developer SL Green, and Jay-Z's Roc Nation entertainment agency—a notable group, yet one that has some community outreach to do. According to the poll, 71% of those surveyed are opposed to the casino initiative, with 59% strongly objecting to it. Only 23% of Times Square residents back the idea of a gaming venue.
This significant opposition spans various demographics, with women being especially opposed, as 77% are against it (62% strongly opposed), as well as people aged 55 and above, where opposition reaches 81% (68% strongly opposed).
Male residents in this area are also weary of the concept of a gaming venue in Midtown Manhattan, with 65% opposing it.
Traffic, Crime Factors Behind Opposition to Times Square Casino
The reasons behind the residents' opposition to the Times Square casino are straightforward. 81% believe a casino hotel will worsen the already congested traffic in the area, 80% think it would result in more crime, and 80% argue that a gaming venue would make Times Square less pleasant.
These crime concerns align with the findings of a survey by the Situation Group, which mentioned that older, affluent New Yorkers living in the suburbs are hesitant to travel to Times Square for fear that crime is on the rise in the theater district.
In terms of Broadway shows, 65% of the poll respondents think a casino hotel would harm theaters, while another 64% see it as a threat to small businesses, such as restaurants in the area.
Caesars and SL Green are trying to address these concerns by linking various businesses in Times Square to Caesars Rewards, hoping to entice customers of the casino hotel to patronize eateries and shops in the theater district.
Times Square an Unpopular Location for Casinos, Say Residents
The poll reveals that only 9% of voters think Times Square is the right place for a new casino hotel. On the other hand, only 12% of them support casinos being constructed anywhere in New York City, including Times Square. However, 24% express acceptance of a gaming establishment in the city, provided it's not in Times Square, while 49% don't want any new casinos in NYC.
Caesars and Wynn Resorts are among the big names who want to establish a casino in Manhattan, while other potential competitors are eyeing locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Nassau County, and Queens.
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Source: www.casino.org
