Gaming Guru

What's the deal and appeal with Caribbean Stud?

Dear Mark,
I can't wait for gambling to come to Detroit. Do you think with just three casinos, there will be enough competition to benefit the player? Benny D.

A resounding NO, and here's why. The precipitous price for those three casino licensees will have to be absorbed by the unwilling and unknowing player. For starters, a state gaming tax of 18 percent of the casino profits was set by Michigan's Proposition E referendum. Next, add an additional $25 million a year to the Michigan Gaming Control Board, plus $5 million for compulsive gambling. State legislators also enacted laws that require each licensee to pay more than $8 million in annual fees. As the Consumer Price Index increases, so do the service fees. The casinos must also pay an additional annual municipal fee of 1.25 percent of the adjusted gross receipts, or $4 million, whichever is greater.

Now if you think the Lords of Chance will be footing the bill for the price of a casino license-the highest amount extracted yet from any casino operator-lose the tears. They'll sulk like a 10-year-old when they have to fork over so much money, but whose pocket will they really take it out of? YOURS. How? By oppressive rules in blackjack, sky-high limits at table games, tight video poker machines and even tighter cybernetic one-armed bandits.

Welcome, Detroit, my hometown, to what I believe will be some of the highest table limits and toughest odds nationwide. For the customers' sake, I hope I'm wrong and will have to digest these words.