Rumor Has it...

ishoot308 · 05-21-2025, 01:19 PM

...that a casino may possibly go in where the arcade is on the pier at the Weirs. This came from a pretty reliable source...

Anyone else hear this?

Dan

Descant · 05-21-2025, 01:40 PM

Haven't heard anything, but it would be great to have s new activity at the Weirs, presumably, with a longer season (maybe April 30 -November 1?) . Can't imagine trying to heat that building.

farechofisherman · 05-21-2025, 07:13 PM

Casinos will ruin populated areas like Laconia and the greater Winni area. We need to build them in the middle of nowhere like the ones in Connecticut. They sound great and the snake oil salesmen will tell you all about the benefits, but you need to look behind the curtain. Atlantic City, Reno, Springfield and dozens of other cities thought casinos were the answer to revitalize their socioeconomic problems and in the long run they ruin the areas.

John Mercier · 05-21-2025, 09:28 PM

We have a casino in Belmont. The area isn't ruined.
Just not enough business to cover the overhead in these areas.

LoveLakeLife · 05-21-2025, 09:47 PM

I vote for bringing back the ballroom with rotating big bands.

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Woodsy · 05-21-2025, 10:00 PM

I seriously doubt a casino would go in the Weirs.... the Pier does not have the parking required per the Casino rules, neither does the Big House. I am also pretty sure all of the licenses in the State are spoken for. Not to mention the impact to the neighborhood!

Woodsy

ishoot308 · 05-22-2025, 04:43 AM

From what I was told, the owner of the building the arcade is in has tripled the rent in an effort to get them out for a casino…Again all second hand info but reliable source.

For what it’s worth…

Dan

BroadHopper · 05-22-2025, 06:11 AM

I heard from very reliable sources that Bruton Smith, the last previous owner of the NH Speedway was lobbying to have in place a very large casino across the street from the race track. He has the infrastructure in place to support the venue.

John Mercier · 05-22-2025, 11:40 AM

He was when they were going to license a limited number of operations for extended casino gaming.

Problem was that the supporters of those casinos wanted to pick specific winners, which violates the NH Constitution.

They could auction a limited number of licenses, but could not choose the sites.

But the purpose of buying the NHIS was to move the NASCAR races to venues with greater revenue. NASCAR stopped him from removing all the races.

At that time, Boomers were making NASCAR attendance surge... but not enough in NH to fill the even the limited number of seats for two events.

Not even sure the single event fills up at this point in time.

BroadHopper · Yesterday, 06:28 AM

Locals will show up at NHIS at the ticket booth, just after the NASCAR race starts. If available empty seats were secured at a fraction of the original cost.

A buddy of mine even secured a box seat!

RUGMAN · Yesterday, 01:52 PM

Discussion of a zoning change for operation of casinos is on the City Council agenda for next Tuesday night the 27th. It maybe an opportunity to express any ones concerns about it being on Lakeside ave.

05-21-2025, 01:19 PM	#1
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,247 Thanks: 2,390 Thanked 5,283 Times in 2,055 Posts	Rumor Has it... ...that a casino may possibly go in where the arcade is on the pier at the Weirs. This came from a pretty reliable source... Anyone else hear this? Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

05-21-2025, 01:40 PM	#2
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,357 Thanks: 1,344 Thanked 1,623 Times in 1,055 Posts	Casino? Haven't heard anything, but it would be great to have s new activity at the Weirs, presumably, with a longer season (maybe April 30 -November 1?) . Can't imagine trying to heat that building.

05-21-2025, 07:13 PM	#3
farechofisherman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: moultonborough & harrison, ny Posts: 63 Thanks: 131 Thanked 42 Times in 15 Posts	Bad idea Casinos will ruin populated areas like Laconia and the greater Winni area. We need to build them in the middle of nowhere like the ones in Connecticut. They sound great and the snake oil salesmen will tell you all about the benefits, but you need to look behind the curtain. Atlantic City, Reno, Springfield and dozens of other cities thought casinos were the answer to revitalize their socioeconomic problems and in the long run they ruin the areas.

05-21-2025, 10:00 PM	#6
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,966 Thanks: 80 Thanked 980 Times in 440 Posts	I seriously doubt a casino would go in the Weirs.... the Pier does not have the parking required per the Casino rules, neither does the Big House. I am also pretty sure all of the licenses in the State are spoken for. Not to mention the impact to the neighborhood! Woodsy __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.

05-22-2025, 04:43 AM	#7
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,247 Thanks: 2,390 Thanked 5,283 Times in 2,055 Posts	Casino From what I was told, the owner of the building the arcade is in has tripled the rent in an effort to get them out for a casino…Again all second hand info but reliable source. For what it’s worth… Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to farechofisherman For This Useful Post:
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05-21-2025, 09:28 PM	#4
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,377 Thanks: 3 Thanked 596 Times in 492 Posts	We have a casino in Belmont. The area isn't ruined. Just not enough business to cover the overhead in these areas.

05-21-2025, 09:47 PM	#5
LoveLakeLife Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 609 Thanks: 95 Thanked 221 Times in 147 Posts	I vote for bringing back the ballroom with rotating big bands. Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to LoveLakeLife For This Useful Post:
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05-22-2025, 06:11 AM	#8
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,576 Thanks: 3,212 Thanked 1,103 Times in 794 Posts	Area Casino I heard from very reliable sources that Bruton Smith, the last previous owner of the NH Speedway was lobbying to have in place a very large casino across the street from the race track. He has the infrastructure in place to support the venue. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

05-22-2025, 11:40 AM	#9
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,377 Thanks: 3 Thanked 596 Times in 492 Posts	He was when they were going to license a limited number of operations for extended casino gaming. Problem was that the supporters of those casinos wanted to pick specific winners, which violates the NH Constitution. They could auction a limited number of licenses, but could not choose the sites. But the purpose of buying the NHIS was to move the NASCAR races to venues with greater revenue. NASCAR stopped him from removing all the races. At that time, Boomers were making NASCAR attendance surge... but not enough in NH to fill the even the limited number of seats for two events. Not even sure the single event fills up at this point in time.

Yesterday, 06:28 AM	#10
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,576 Thanks: 3,212 Thanked 1,103 Times in 794 Posts	Locals secret Locals will show up at NHIS at the ticket booth, just after the NASCAR race starts. If available empty seats were secured at a fraction of the original cost. A buddy of mine even secured a box seat! __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

Yesterday, 01:52 PM	#11
RUGMAN Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: weirs beach, Posts: 303 Thanks: 39 Thanked 39 Times in 32 Posts	Discussion of a zoning change for operation of casinos is on the City Council agenda for next Tuesday night the 27th. It maybe an opportunity to express any ones concerns about it being on Lakeside ave.