My View – Casino

I admit it. I love WNY. I am young enough (the losing end of 29) to feel optimistic that our region will turn around. I am idealistic enough to know I can make a difference in our community after I graduate from law school. And most of all, I love entertaining out of town friends and showing them exactly why I am proud to call WNY my home.

A few weeks ago, I set out to fulfill my personal Buffalo Agenda and recruit my college chums to Buffalo for the 4th of July.

“Why Buffalo?” The friends from Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Cleveland asked.

I answered with tales of Allentown restaurants with outdoor patios, a picnic at the Erie Basin Marina and a Miss Buffalo Party Cruise. And for Saturday, Shakespeare in the Park and a trip to Niagara Falls. Oh yeah, and the casinos.

At this point you should know I am NOT an advocate of casino gaming. The thought of bringing one to Buffalo makes me want to take the Ohio bar exam next summer. However, my out of town friends do enjoy throwing back a few dollars. All for fun.

My friends and I choose to support the new Seneca Niagara instead of crossing the border. Unassuming, bright eyed and very thirsty we pass by the nice man at the door who, thankfully, carded our almost-30 something crowd. About five minutes into the adventure we find a worthy slot machine. As silly girlfriends do, we gather together for a photo before hitting it big.

Oops.

No flash photography allowed. I claim my ignorance of this rule and guilt up front.

Within a millisecond of my $10 camera flashing, a security guard appears.Mr. Security Guard very, sternly, lectures me about how cameras are not allowed. On a bad day, I would have been annoyed with the extreme attitude I received. However, this was a good day. I smiled, remained friendly, apologized, explained I was unaware of the rule and willingly handed the man my camera.

The man continued his incessant tirade about the rules after I handed him my camera. Again, I understood the situation. (So did the 27 other people watching this spectacle.) I was ignorant and guilty. I offered my camera, politely and tried to continue my adventure with my friends.

Apparently, my good-natured and unbelievable understanding demeanor was not good enough for this man. The humiliation continued when the man briskly escorted me to the coat check. On the way he blared into his walkie-talkie to the “casino officials” about the “incident.” Mr. Security Guard even stopped me along the 30-second walk to point out, in two different places where the rule was posted. (Good thing I had left my firearms at home.)

Somehow, I remained calm in this comical situation while the security guard (one of those coveted jobs in the community formed by casino gaming) did his best to belittle me in public. I have never been so dumbfounded. After all, I apologized immediately, handed over my camera not expecting to keep the film with the “unauthorized picture” or even the camera. And yet, I was ok with this fact.

Of course, after checking my camera, the group decided to flee this very friendly American establishment. Out the door went perfectly good dollars, headed for Canada. My lawyer friends from Philly wanted me to complain to management. I decided to vent frustrations elsewhere.

Camera $10.
Film $5.
Pictures of Good Friends at Niagara Falls $0
(after all, the film in my friends unauthorized cameras can be easily duplicated.)
Big Scene at Seneca Niagara Casino- you get the idea.

And some still think this exact business, run by the same friendly people, is the panacea for Buffalo’s revenue problem. God Bless America.