There aren't as many casinos in Canada because they are owned by the government. So, basically, there's no competition with each other. Harrahs and others only run the casinos. I often wonder what percentage each get of the profits.

The problem with the border casinos like Windsor and Niagara Falls is they depend on the American gamblers. As the article said, the passport laws really hurt Canadian gambling. Plus our economy is worse than Canada. Windsor casino used to be the most popular of the 4 casinos in the Detroit area. But now Windsor's loss is Detroit's gain.

The revenue from gambling in Canada pays a large part of their health care and education. So maybe Obama should think about opening some casinos to pay for his health care program.

A border guard once ask me why I go to Canada to gamble and not keep my $$ in the U.S. I told him it was mainly because of the no smoking but also if I ever won anything big, there's no taxes. Supposedly, the Canadian government does not turn your name into the U.S. government, but I'll bet if an American won a million over there, our government would find out somehow.

Michigan's casinos are going to drive each other out of business. Our economy is the worst in the country and they keep building more casinos. I think we've got 23- 24 now and more in the process. If Ohio gets gambling, it's really going to hurt the southern Michigan casinos.

Yes, you do have to declare more than $10,000. They usually ask us how much money we have when we cross the border. Some ask if it's over $10,000. One day the guard asked if we had more than $5000. I said that's unusual as they usually ask if it's over $10,000. He said they weren't as concerned over how much as if you are telling the truth. One couple said they had $60,000 but when searched, they actually had $120,000. Because they lied about, the US government confiscated it all.

Usually, I tell them if I had more than $10,000 on me, I would not be in Canada. I would be in Vegas.

I don't have to worry about winning enough for the government to get concerned. Betting 40-60 cents at a time is not going to produce a big time win. But it also won't produce a break the budget loss either.

Since I've been going to Canada, this is almost the lowest exchange rate at $1.03. It got down to .93 last year for a short time. The highest I've ever gotten was $1.60. I think it was in 2002. That was great to give them $100 and get $160. It stayed above $150 thru most of 2002. Then went down to the $1.30-$1.40 in 2003. It's been going slowly down ever since.

Craven, you say the sales tax is not on food. Apparently, prepared food is exempt cause the lunch buffet at Windsor is $17.95 but with taxes, it's well over $20. When the exchange rate was 1.50, that didn't sound too bad. But now that the exchange rate is almost even, I think it's a little high for lunch. Specially, since Greektown in Detroit is doing their anytime buffet for $9.99.

I stopped in at a Windsor grocery store one day just to see how the prices compare and they are definitely higher. And we stopped at a mall, and your choices are definitely limited.

I'm curious as to what you do about duty tax at the border. Some Canadians have told me they come to the U.S. every week to do their shopping but I forgot to ask what the border does about taxing the stuff.

I notice coming into the States, we have to declare meat and fruits but going into Canada, there's no such sign. I assume Canada trusts our fruit and meat more. One day, I declared a pear that I had taken off the buffet for a snack later but didn't eat it. The guard asked if it had a sticker on it. Told him it was in the cooler in the trunk and I really didn't remember. He said from now on, if it had a sticker, it was ok. I also declared 2 bananas that I had taken from home and brought back without eating. I had them on the car seat and they had no stickers. But the guard took my word for it that they came from the States.

Craven, do Canadians pay property tax? If so, how does it compare to the U.S.?

On your income tax, is it taxable after deductions or is that a straight 15% or 22% on full income?

Thanks for all the answers. Your property tax is about like this country. Our house is 1800 or so square feet and our taxes are $1900+ a year with school taxes. That is only because of the 1994 Headlee Amendment. If we sold our house, since it's after 1994, the new owners would pay about $5000+.

When our son was losing his house 3 years ago, he signed it over to us and we paid it off. The taxes on that house went from $1200+ to over to $3600+. Ouch, that hurt. So now we own 2 houses to pay taxes and insurance on. But the nice thing is he doesn't have to live with us .

I don't buy anything in Canada when I go over, so I never have to worry about duty taxes. On the Canadian side they always ask if we have any alcohol or tobacco. I tell them those aren't our vices. But gambling is. They also ask if we have any weapons or pepper spray. On the American side, they never ask about tobacco, alcohol or weapons. They usually just ask about money after they ask why we were in Canada. They always ask how long we were there and I say overnight because of the free night, which means I have gambled too much.