OTTAWA — Ever since city council voted for a new casino in Ottawa, I’ve been trying to figure out who is happy about it.

There’s an old saying in politics about how you can’t please all of the people all of the time. But you’re supposed to be able to please some people some of the time. So who is being pleased by this?

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. thinks it can generate a little extra cash with a new gaming facility. Even that is questionable. But other than that, who will win, besides a few people every night at the tables?

What’s the upside for the community of a new casino? Anyone who likes to gamble already has two nearby facilities where they can do it: the Casino du Lac Leamy and the slot machines at Rideau Carleton Raceway. I’m not aware of any potential customer who was asking for another location.

I’ve talked to a dozen people in the local tourism industry and they’re all ambivalent about gambling. It’s unlikely the new casino will bring more people to Ottawa. Since there is legal gambling in the majority of provinces and states in North America, why would anyone come here just to play the tables?

To the extent that casinos draw visitors, we already have a nearby facility in Gatineau to attract them.

And considering this is supposed to be a world-class entertainment venue and not a garbage dump, it’s interesting that nobody seems to want the new casino in their neighbourhood.

Even the people who appear to be in favour of a casino speak about it like an obligation rather than an opportunity. Has there ever been another city council meeting like the one last week, when councillors voted 19-5 for a casino despite the fact that, as the Citizen’s David Reevely pointed out, most of them sounded like they were against it?

Councillor Mark Taylor, for example, said to OLG: “I do not welcome you as a friendly partner. I see you as an adversarial business interest.”

Then he proceeded to vote in favour of doing business with this unfriendly adversary. That makes me curious about Taylor’s investment strategy. I don’t like your business and I don’t trust you. But here are my retirement savings.

College councillor Rick Chiarelli indicated he didn’t have enough information, but still voted in favour of a casino, another interesting approach.

Mayor Jim Watson talks about the casino as though it’s the city’s responsibility to bring back the revenue we’re losing to Quebec, rather than something that will provide benefit to the community. Most of those reclaimed dollars, though, will go to the province, not to city hall. The city might bring in an extra couple of million a year compared to the current proceeds from the slot machines at Rideau Carleton. But that’s small change, about 0.1 per cent of the municipal budget.

Besides, we always talk about how Ottawa and Gatineau form one economic region. We talk about co-operation and mutual benefit. So why fight over the proceeds from gaming?

Plus, the Casino du Lac Leamy won’t stand idly by while OLG tries to win away its customers. The Gatineau facility is already planning a massive renovation.