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Meciar: Discussion About Metropolis Casino Needs To Be Depoliticized
Thursday 17 December 2009 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, December 17 (TASR) - The discussion regarding the multi-functional project Metropolis with a casino on the outskirts of Bratislava in Jarovce needs to be depoliticized and the positives and negatives needs to be weighed in discussion with people, said LS-HZDS Chairman Vladimir Meciar on Thursday.
"It seems like if one party supports anything, the other party will oppose it on principle. If their positions were reversed, they would just exchange their stances," Meciar commented on the stances that Smer-SD and KDH parties adopted with respect to the project Metropolis.
Finance Minister Jan Pociatek (a nominee of governing Smer-SD) supports the mega-investment, whereas KDH claims that the negatives will outstrip the benefits.
"Every kind of gaming has some amount of immorality. It's up to society to find the right balance, the consensus of how much gaming is tolerable," said Meciar, adding that there are different experiences with casinos in Russia and different experiences in American Las Vegas. According to Meciar, a public discussion regarding the positives and negatives of such a complex is legitimate. "This centre represents also a complex of opportunities. For instance, one thing that works well in Las Vegas and earns most money are centres for children. That's because these centres draw parents, who spend money on themselves and on their children," said Meciar.
Christian Democrats (KDH) has raised objections to the entire project, because the Metropolis will feature a casino. KDH acknowledges the benefits of the investment, namely higher tax revenues and creation of new jobs; however, they are wary of the risks in the form of criminality, particularly organised crime, drugs, gambling, increased poverty and broken homes. According to KDH representatives, these are the negative effects of such a "megalomaniac" project.
The multifunctional entertainment and recreation project worth €1.5 billion, co-financed by Harrah's Entertainment Inc., should consist of a commercial area, aquapark, conference facilities, hotels and sports arenas as well as casinos spread out over 1.2 million square metres. The project should create 30,000 jobs long-term as well as temporary jobs and strengthen the service sector in the economy. The Metropolis will not to be supported by the Slovak Government in any way, thereby it would not have any direct impact on the state budget in the construction phase.
The Finance Ministry rejects KDH's criticism. "The ministry views such accusations as unsubstantiated, as the crucial part of the whole project features relaxation, cultural, recreational and sports facilities, including hotels and restaurants. The casino represents only a small part of the project," ministry spokesperson Miroslav Smal told TASR. He adds that such an investment would support the growth of tourism with a positive impact on public finances and employment.
The project was announced by Finance Minister Jan Pociatek in October. According to Pociatek, The Metropolis should bring 30,000 jobs, attract 5 million tourists to Slovakia yearly and increase the state tax income by €600 millions.
{There are already scores of casinos in Slovakia, though none of the magnitude of The Metropolis, which is located where Slovak, Hungarian and Austria borders meet - ed. note}
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