Richard Bilbao
Reporter-
Orlando Business Journal

Is it possible resort casinos in Orlando could wreak havoc on the entire hotel market?
That’s the sentiment some anti-casino experts believe if Florida leaders side with supporters of expanding gaming throughout the state.
Let me be the first to say the economic impacts — both good and bad — on the topic of gaming are plentiful. Supporters say it will result in thousands of new jobs, while dissenters say it’s just not the jobs we want. Then there’s the arguments about whether gambling will help or tarnish the state’s family-friendly brand.
The lists of arguments go on and on. Trust me, there’s a 700-page report on it.
But throughout talks with proponents on both sides of the argument, something did stand out each time: How would Orlando’s bustling hotel market react to a resort casino if it lowers its room rates to draw people to its casinos?
Could a hyper-competitive resort casino cause the region’s hotels — which are bouncing back from the Great Recession — to once again drop their room rates to stay competitive?
Think about it: What’s more attractive to an Orlando tourist — a hotel charging $100 per night or a resort charging $90 with access to a 24-hour casino floor?
Dropping room rates would move down through the various levels of properties — luxury, upper-scale, midrange and economy.
And before you say, "But Richard, that’s good for the guest, cheaper rooms mean we appear more affordable."
Sure, but at what cost to the overhead of a hotel? Properties that have to charge less to stay competitive have less to spend on renovations, upkeep, maintaining quality staff and more to stay in the black.

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