The sudden abandonment of the Fairgrounds project by Miller Valentine left many scratching their heads, especially when their new project, the Dayton Arcade is a project that’s been floundering for almost 30 years.
An anonymous source says Miller Valentine and the city are busy lobbying to grant a limited gambling license to the Arcade for, ready, a poker palace.
Dayton has been identified as poker heaven, with leagues, private games, and bootleg poker operations running rampant and around the clock, especially since the elimination of online poker.
The difference between poker and other table games- if there is actual skill involved, and the house only takes a small rake on every hand. This is why normal casino operations devote a small amount of space to poker, as compared to other actual gambling where the house has much better returns.
The idea is to use poker to draw other businesses, and provide the critical mass of people to sustain round-the-clock food, massages, and other services, as well as liquor- which MV will hold on to to generate revenue.
The Arcade’s poker rotunda also will make a stunning backdrop for televised tournaments.
MV sees this as an opportunity to also lure a boutique hotel operator to the site- and offer “Poker getaway weekends” for the serious poker player.
Plans to have the initiative on the ballot for the fall are being finalized with a hopedfor opening date of April 1, 2017.
Hooray for David Esrati the reporter.
Who knows if this turns out to be the actual path. But, whatever, we heard it here first.
Oops. I fell for it. I need to pay more attention to the calendar.
Agree John, Scoop Esrati with the news. Great news! Sounds viable, now the question of parking and security comes up if this takes off but there’s no doubt this would be great for an absolutely dead downtown. Thanks David for the good news!!!
If it is true, I’m sure that the City Commissioners will find a way to screw up the deal!
If this hadn’t been published on April 1, it might be hopeful. As it stands, Dayton … April Fool? The Arcade needs a massive influx of capital just to pay off its maintenance and tax burdens before any actual developing or restoration could begin.
Don’t you think ONE of the half dozen attempts would have succeeded by now if it were feasible?
B L, nobody has went in with this concept. They’ve previously used the retail and or tired retail/housing model which has proven DOA or there would be more retail space downtown. I’m hoping for the best as there’s not many alternatives left unless its medical use (which is about the only other development that works in Nannyville).