Casino benefits intrigue Revere business owners

REVERE – Roger Oakley needs $150,000 to expand his small consumer electronics business, and promises by Suffolk Downs casino proponents to bring 4,000 jobs and $10 million in annual local business spending to Revere have captured his attention.There?s no guarantee Oakley?s Skyline Global Stores will receive any gambling money – provided a state commission grants Suffolk a casino license this year – but Oakley said a casino?s presence at Suffolk Downs will bring people to Revere and more potential customers to his business.?Anything that brings attention to the city in a positive way is a good thing. This helps to feed local businesses,” he said.Suffolk Downs? owners and casino operator Mohegan Sun have teamed up to spend $1.3 billion building a casino on the site of the 78-year-old horse racing track near the East Boston line. They need state approval to secure a casino license and an Everett casino plan is also competing for the only license set aside for an Eastern Massachusetts casino.Suffolk and Mohegan executives reached out to Revere?s business community Wednesday at the Revere Chamber of Commerce, meeting one day after gambling proponents launched “Revere Says Yes,” a voter-oriented campaign aimed at passing a Feb. 25 referendum vote on a Suffolk casino.?We?re going to do as much outreach as we can: The more forums we have the more turnout we have. I think it will pass with a greater margin in February than it did in November,” Mayor Daniel Rizzo said.Rizzo said the host agreement between the city and the Suffolk-Mohegan partnership includes a minimum $10 million in annual spending on Revere “goods and services.” The agreement also calls for $50 million in spending with businesses in a 15-mile radius of Suffolk Downs.In addition, Mohegan Sun Chief Executive Officer Mitchell Etess said Mohegan establishes partnerships with businesses near its casinos and awards gamblers with points that can be redeemed as services or purchases at participating businesses.?Estimated points earned through (the) partnership program will near $100 million annually spent at local establishments,” noted a Mohegan statement displayed during Wednesday?s chamber meeting.Lare Training Center employees Marie Dariotis and Gail Barrera said a Suffolk casino could provide jobs to Lare clients, including people currently receiving state job assistance.?We?re all for it,” Dariotis said.Etess said Mohegan has a reputation for employee loyalty and gambling industry skills are transferable to non-casino jobs.?Almost any job that takes place out in the world takes place in a casino,” he said.The Fairfield Marriott on Route 1 relies on Boston?s tourism industry for customers, but hotel General Manager Daniel Gregorio said business drops off in the colder months. A Suffolk casino could mean year-round customers for the 154-room hotel.?In the winter months, it would definitely help,” he said.During his chamber presentation, Etess provided a detailed view of what a Suffolk casino will look like with two hotels, a horseshoe-shaped, 150,000 square-foot gambling area and views of horses galloping around Suffolk?s tracks.He said the casino will feature a roof garden and a “farm to table” restaurant with adjacent produce garden.Even if a Suffolk casino?s commitment to Revere now amounts to numbers on a piece of paper, Oakley thinks money made from casino gambling can help local businesses.?It boils down to people being able to generate capital to do more business,” he said.