City officials are placing big bets on the new Rivers Casino bringing big bucks and an economic boost to Portsmouth — but some experts say that might not necessarily be in the cards.

The casino is expected to bring in $16 million in tax revenue, says Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover.

“That will come back to the City of Portsmouth. And that’s huge, when you think about a city that we live on about 56 cents on the dollar. It’s going to draw people to Portsmouth. It also means that when people come to Portsmouth, they’re gonna spend dollars,” he said.

At nearby Tony’s Crab & Seafood, the staff is already preparing for more foot traffic.